More on Nipperkin from Infoplease:

• Nipperkin - Nipperkin (A). A small wine and beer measure. Now called a “nip.” His hawk-economy ...
• Nip - Nip (A). As a “nip of whisky,” a “nip of brandy,” “just a nip.” ...
• Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: N - Definitions, origins, and illustrative excerpts for words, phases, and literary allusions starting with "N"