Clipping refers to the process whereby a lexeme (whether simple, compounded or
complex (namely, a neo-classical formation)) is shortened, while still retaining the same meaning and still being a member of the same form class. In this process, the clipped part may be the beginning or the end. Clipping of the beginning of simple lexemes can be seen in a word like ‘gator’ (from ‘alligator’), whilst ‘rhino’ (from ‘rhinoceros’) is an example of the end of a simple lexeme being clipped.