nippy

American  

[nip-ee] / ˈnɪp i /

adjective

nippier, nippiest

1. chilly or cold.

   morning air that feels a bit nippy.

2. sharp or biting; tangy.

   This cheese has a good, nippy taste.

3. Chiefly British Informal. nimble; agile.

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nippy British  

/ ˈnɪpɪ /

adjective

1. (of weather) chilly, keen, or frosty

2. informal

   1. quick; nimble; active

   2. (of a motor vehicle) small and relatively powerful

3. (of the taste of food) biting, sharp, or pungent

4. (of a dog) inclined to bite

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Other Word Forms

• nippily
  adverb
• nippiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of nippy

First recorded in 1565–75; nip ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

The annual Nippy Dip in Stonehaven on New Year's Day has already been cancelled due to safety fears and Northlink Ferries has warned that some services may be disrupted from Friday to Sunday.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025

His nonexistent companion Nippy is the type of adorable toy dog that only a gentle stranger would have.

From Salon • Jul. 26, 2022

And she loved Houston, to whom she still refers by her nickname, Nippy.

From The Guardian • Nov. 16, 2019

How did someone whose nickname was Nippy, go so suddenly from angel to ghost?

From New York Times • Jul. 5, 2018

Curly and Nippy done the same as Ashes.

From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis