niobite (niobit)

[ Same as columbite. niobium (nī-ō'bi-um), n. [NL., so called in allusion to tantalum, which it closely resembles, Spenser. And sharpe remorse his hart did prick and nip . 7. To satirize keenly; taunt sarcastically; vex. But the right gentle minde woulde bite his lip To heare the Javell so good men to nip . Spenser, Mother Hub. Tale, 1. 712. Mrs. Hart. nipped and beaked her husband, drank, and smoked. S. Judd , Margaret, i. 3. 81. Το steal, pilfer; purloin. [Old cant.] -9. To snatch up hastily. Hall i well. [Prov. Eng.] An authentick gypsie, that nips your bung with a canting ordinance. Cleveland's Works. (Nares.) To nip in the blo omt. Same as to nip in the bud. Marvell. To nip in the bud, to kill or destroy in the first stage of growth; cut off before development. Yet I can frown, and nip a pa ion Even in the bud. Beau. and Fl . , Woman-Hater, iii. 1. To nip the cable ( naut.), to tie or secure a cable with nippers to the me enger.