knippen

• IPA^(key): /ˈknɪpə(n)/

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• Hyphenation: knip‧pen
• Rhymes: -ɪpən

From Middle Dutch knippen, further etymology unknown. Directly related only with Middle Low German knippen. Probably onomatopoeic.

The sense “to blink” may, at least in part, be due to conflation with knijpen (“to squeeze”). Compare de ogen toeknijpen (“to screw up one’s eyes”); also Low German knippen and kniepen both in the sense of “to blink”, German kniepen.

knippen

1. (transitive) to cut with scissors
2. (transitive, computing) to cut (remove an item and place it in memory for later use)
3. (transitive, archaic) to make a pinching movement, especially with one's eyelids; thus, to blink
4. (intransitive, transitive) to snap one's fingers

• afknippen
• bijknippen
• doorknippen
• inknippen
• knipoog
• knipperen
• verknippen

See the etymology of the main entry.

knippen

1. plural of knip