Cut tail off bird (4)

I believe the answer is:

snip

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'cut' is the definition.
(snip means to cut)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for snip that I've seen before include "Cut with scissors - bargain" , "Cut with shears" , "Cut quickly with a scissors" , "bargain buy" , "Cut using pins" .)

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