A nipper is a drillers' offsider in the mining industry and I believe is only used in Australia. I have heard one version that it refers to the dog on His Masters Voice logo (that apparently was a foxy named Nipper) but I have been unable to confirm this.
2007-01-23 13:09:32 · 4 answers · asked by denianar 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
One of the dictionary definitions of 'nipper' is "the most junior member of a group of workmen, esp. one employed in menial tasks". (By the way, this is before the days of phonograph records and the dog named Nipper.) And in mining, "A 'nipper' is the first stage in becoming a professional underground production miner."
(So he has the easiest job. In the old days, the 'nipper' was just the boy who opened and closed. the mine door when a mule-driven cart came through.)
2007-01-26 04:03:22 · answer #1 · answered by K ; 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Define Nippers
2016-11-05 03:25:19 · answer #2 · answered by vaz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can only give my own personal theory on this one, in Delabole in Cornwall there is a slate quarry, and the men who fashion the slates are called "nippers" Any use?
2007-01-29 07:41:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Found this interesting information at http://www.answers.com/topic/latrine-cleaner, but not the origin:
latrine cleaner (lə′trēn ′klēn·ər)
(mining engineering) A laborer who brings toilet cars in a mine to the surface on a cage and flushes the contents into a sewer. Also called sanitary nipper.
2007-01-23 13:17:52 · answer #4 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋