clipped
UK[klɪpt]US[klɪpt]
adj
Shortened or trimmed.
adj
(of speech) Pronounced with quick, short, clear sounds.
Etymology
The modern word "clipped" originates from the Middle English verb "clippen," which itself derives from the Old English "clyppan," meaning 'to embrace' or 'to surround.' The semantic shift from embracing to cutting is thought to be influenced by Old Norse "klippa," which meant 'to cut or shear.' This connection likely arose from the action of scissors or shears closing around and grasping what they cut. Over time, "clipped" evolved from describing a physical cutting action to also describing concise, abrupt speech, metaphorically conveying the idea of trimming away excess length.
Analysis
The word "clipped" is the past participle and adjective form of the verb "clip." The verb "clip" is of Old English origin, from "clyppan," meaning 'to embrace' or 'to clasp,' which later evolved to mean 'to cut with shears.'
Examples
She wore her hair in a neatly clipped bob.
He answered in a clipped, military tone.
The article had to be clipped to fit the column space.