Word of the Day: Nipper (noun)
Possible Meanings:
- British English (informal): A small boy; a lad.
- A pinching or grasping tool, such as pliers or a clothespin. (usually used in plural – nippers)
- The large pincer-like claw of a lobster, crab, or similar crustacean.
Example Sentences (Meaning 1):
- The old sailor told stories of his adventures at sea as a young nipper. (Explanation: Nipper refers to him as a boy when he first started sailing.)
- Watch out, little nipper, that puddle is deep! (Explanation: Here, nipper is used in a friendly way to address a young child.)
Example Sentences (Meaning 2):
- Can you hand me the nippers? I need to cut this wire. (Explanation: Nippers refers to the tool used for cutting.)
- Be careful not to pinch your fingers in the clothes nippers. (Explanation: Here, nippers refers to the clothespins used to hang laundry.)
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Example Sentences (Meaning 3):
- The crab scuttled across the sand, its large nippers snapping at the air. (Explanation: Nipper describes the crab’s claw used for grabbing food.)
- The lobster used its powerful nippers to crack open the clam shell. (Explanation: Here, nipper describes the lobster’s claw used for breaking open its food.)
Conversation Example (Meaning 1):
Person 1: “Look at those kids playing football! They must be freezing in that weather.”
Person 2: “Don’t worry, those little nippers are full of energy. They won’t feel the cold much.”
Conversation Example (Meaning 2):
Person 1: “This necklace clasp is really stuck. Do you have anything to help me open it?”
Person 2: “Sure, here are the nippers. You should be able to pry it open carefully with those.”
Can you use nippers in a sentence of your own? Share your example in the comments below.