An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Schnippchen

by Friedrich Kluge

Schnippchen, neuter, ‘snap’ (of the fingers), Modern High German only, allied to schnippen, Middle High German snipfen, (Middle German) snippen, ‘to snap.’ Akin to schnippeln, ‘to snip, chip,’ formed from Low German; compare Dutch snippelen, ‘to cut in pieces, mutilate,’ English snip. —