clipping

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
clip1

▶noun

• 1 a flexible or spring-loaded device for holding an object or objects together or in place.

• 2 a piece of jewellery fastened by a clip.

• 3 a metal holder containing cartridges for an automatic firearm.

▶verb (clips, clipping, clipped) fasten or be fastened with a clip or clips.

– origin OE clyppan (v.), of W. Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
clip2

▶verb (clips, clipping, clipped)

• 1 cut short or cut out with shears or scissors.

  ■ trim the hair or wool of (an animal).

• 2 strike smartly or with a glancing blow.

• 3 informal, chiefly N. Amer. swindle or rob.

• 4 informal, chiefly US move quickly.

• 5 Electronics truncate the amplitude of (a signal) above or below predetermined levels.

▶noun

• 1 an act of clipping.

  ■ the quantity of wool clipped from a sheep or flock.

• 2 a short sequence taken from a film or broadcast.

• 3 informal a smart or glancing blow.

• 4 informal a rapid speed or rate: I trotted on at a fair clip.

– phrases
at a clip US informal at a time; all at once.
clip the wings of trim the feathers of (a bird) to disable it from flight.

■ hamper the aspirations of.

– derivatives
clipping noun.

– origin ME: from ON klippa, prob. imitative.