The word Nippy

my own deffinition of the word:

Gives a false impression of speed and agility around corners, usually occurs in small cars (there are some exceptions, some small cars can corner quickly - elise, etc)
 
Dictionary
nip·py (nĭp'ē)
adj., -pi·er, -pi·est.
Tending to nip: an exuberant, nippy puppy.
Sharp or biting: nippy cheese.
Bitingly cold: a nippy fall day.
nippily nip'pi·ly adv.
nippiness nip'pi·ness n.

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Thesaurus
nippy

adjective

Marked by a low temperature: chill, chilly, cold, cool, shivery. See hot/cold/lukewarm.



Antonyms
nippy
adj
Definition: agilely
Antonyms: clumsy, lumbering

adj

Definition: cold
Antonyms: warm



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WordNet
Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.
The adjective nippy has one meaning:

Meaning #1: pleasantly cold and invigorating; (`parky' is a British term)
Synonyms: crisp, frosty, nipping, snappy, parky



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Wikipedia
nippy
A nippy (plural nippies) was a specific type of waitress associated with the J. Lyons & Co brand of tea, and its tea shops and cafes in the UK. Beginning in the late 1800s, a J. Lyons waitress was called a "Gladys". As of 1926, however, the term "Nippy" came into use, inspired by the quick, niplike motions involved with making and serving tea in a crowded restaurant setting. Thus, the etymology of the word is similar to the more general term "soda jerk". Nippies wore a distinctive maidlike uniform with a matching hat.


Advertising Icon
By the 1920s it was already long established in the advertising world that an attractive female could sell products, and the tea business was no exception. Nippies appeared in all manner of advertising, on product packages, and on promotional items. The nippy soon became a national icon. Unlike other endorsements of the day, which often took the form of popular celebrities or cartoon characters, a nippy was contrastingly accessible and close to home. A nippy was someone who could be seen and interacted with every day, and perhaps this was part of the appeal of the concept. J. Lyons was very careful to maintain the nippy image as wholesome and proper - strict cleanliness standards for nippy uniforms were maintained, and prior to World War II, J. Lyons would not hire married women as nippies. So popular was the image that miniature nippy outfits were popular for children dressing up for special events.


Nippy, the musical
In 1931, the nippy concept was adapted into a hit musical comedy for the stage called Nippy. Popular actress Binnie Hale played the nippy in question. The show was written by Arthur Wimperis and Austin Melford, with Wimperis and Frank Eyton also contributing lyrics. Several records were released with songs from the musical, such as the title song and the lively "It must be you".


Margaret Thatcher
Future British prime minister Margaret Thatcher did work at J. Lyons & Co for a relatively brief period in the late 1940s. However, she was a research chemist at their laboratories, so while Thatcher could truthfully be said to have been a female employee of J. Lyons & Co. during the time when nippies existed, she was not a nippy herself.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
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slow, underpowered small cars with poor acceleration seem to be most oftenly described as 'nippy'.
 
Nippy cars are generally those geared/engined for around town, ie, they run out of puff at about 60, but feel quick and agile at lower speeds.
 
andi said:
Nippy cars are generally those geared/engined for around town, ie, they run out of puff at about 60, but feel quick and agile at lower speeds.
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exactly

i call my car nippy, cos its ideal for buzzing around town

it seems perfectly happy at 80 though so its probably not a proper nippy car
 
andi said:
Nippy cars are generally those geared/engined for around town, ie, they run out of puff at about 60, but feel quick and agile at lower speeds.
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I always thought the WRXs were nippy, now Im convinced :p
 
Any car with relatively short gears tends to feel nippy. My car feels nippy because with 3rd gear you are only going from 60-85mph, and it can do that fairly quickly. As you are able to change up often and quickly, it gives a false sense of speed.
 
RiPz said:
my own deffinition of the word:

Gives a false impression of speed and agility around corners, usually occurs in small cars (there are some exceptions, some small cars can corner quickly - elise, etc)
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Couldn't be more wrong, Olv and Andi have it spot on.
 
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