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clip¹

(klĭp)

v. clipped, clip·ping, clips

v.tr.

1. To cut, cut off, or cut out with or as if with shears: clip coupons; clipped three seconds off the record.

2. To make shorter by cutting; trim: clip a hedge.

3. To cut off the edge of: clip a coin.

4. To cut short; curtail.

a. To shorten (a word or words) by leaving out letters or syllables.

b. To enunciate with clarity and precision: clip one's words.

6. Informal To hit with a sharp blow: clipped me under the eye.

7. Football To block (an opponent) illegally from the rear.

8. Sports To hit or kick (the ball) in a certain direction.

9. Slang To cheat, swindle, or rob.

v.intr.

1. To cut something.

2. Informal To move rapidly.

1. The act of clipping.

2. Something clipped off, especially:

a. The wool shorn at one shearing, as of sheep.

b. A season's shearing.

3. A short extract from a movie or television program.

4. Informal A quick sharp blow: a clip on the ear.

5. Football An illegal block from the rear.

6. Informal A pace or rate: go at a fast clip.

7. A single occasion; a time: could write nine pages at a clip.

8. clips A pair of shears or clippers.

[Middle English clippen, from Old Norse klippa.]

clip²

(klĭp)

1. Any of various devices for gripping or holding things together; a clasp or fastener.

2. A piece of jewelry that fastens with a clasp or clip, such as an earring or a brooch.

3. A cartridge clip.

tr.v. clipped, clip·ping, clips

1. To fasten with or as if with a clip; hold tightly.

2. Archaic To embrace or encompass.

[Middle English, hook, from clippen, to clasp, embrace, from Old English clyppan.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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