Definition of nipper

The word "nipper" originated in the early 19th century as a slang term for a child who would steal wax from church candles, known as "nips" or "nippers." Candles were a valuable commodity at the time and were often kept in churchyards as a source of light for funerals and other religious ceremonies. These young thieves, typically aged 6 to 12, would clip off a small piece of the candle, known as a "nip," which they could then sell to candle dippers for a profit. The term "nipper" also came to describe children who would travel from place to place, selling items they'd stolen, such as ribbons, gloves, or candles, in what became known as a "nipper's party." As the trade in candle dipping became more lucrative, adult criminals began exploiting child labor to increase profits. The term "nipper" shifted from being a harmless childhood game to a derogatory term for disadvantaged children who worked in dangerous and exploitative environments. Today, the term "nipper" is generally used in a more lighthearted context, referring to young children Learning to use phonographic records, thanks to the use of the phrase "His Master's Voice" in the advertising campaigns of the record company Columbia, which featured a small terrier looking over a gramophone. Their slogan, "The greatest recorded sanctuary orchestra in the world," was featured in advertising, leading to the dog being called "Nipper," launching the term into popular culture. However, the origin of the word "nipper" as a derogatory term for disadvantaged children still remains a part of the language, reflecting social injustices of the past and continuing issues related to child labor and exploitation today.