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.
adjective -pier or -piest
- (of weather) chilly, keen, or frosty
- British informal
- quick; nimble; active
- (of a motor vehicle) small and relatively powerful
- (of the taste of food) biting, sharp, or pungent
- (of a dog) inclined to bite
1898, in reference to a “biting” chill in the air, from nip (n.2) + -y (2). Related: Nippiness.