Dictionary.com
definitions

nippy

[ nip-ee ]
/ ˈnɪp i /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nippy ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, nip·pi·er, nip·pi·est.

chilly or cold: morning air that feels a bit nippy.
sharp or biting; tangy: This cheese has a good, nippy taste.
Chiefly British Informal. nimble; agile.

RELATED WORDS

biting, brisk, cold, crisp, cutting, freezing, sharp

Nearby words

  1. nipplewort,
  2. nippon,
  3. nipponese,
  4. nipponism,
  5. nippur,
  6. niqab,
  7. nira,
  8. nirenberg,
  9. nirex,
  10. niridazole

Origin of nippy

First recorded in 1565–75; nip1 + -y1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nippy

British Dictionary definitions for nippy

nippy

/ (ˈnɪpɪ) /

adjective -pier or -piest

(of weather) chilly, keen, or frosty
British informal
  1. quick; nimble; active
  2. (of a motor vehicle) small and relatively powerful
(of the taste of food) biting, sharp, or pungent
(of a dog) inclined to bite
Derived Formsnippily, adverbnippiness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for nippy

nippy

adj.

1898, in reference to a "biting" chill in the air, from nip (n.2) + -y (2). Related: Nippiness.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper