nimps

The story

1. Middle English · derived fromnimpen“to chew, gnaw, take a bite, nibble”
2. English todaynimps

Origin uncertain. Probably from the plural of nimp (“a small piece, fragment, bit”), perhaps in a phrase those are nimps "those are small bits", hence "that's easy". If so then cognate with Scots nimp (“a very small piece”); both from or akin to Middle English nimpen (“to chew, gnaw, take a bite, nibble”), likely a blend of nim + nip. Compare also related English nimble (“agile, quick”).