Nipper comes from strange tribe (5)
I believe the answer is:
biter
'nipper' is the definition.
(something which nips)
'strange tribe' is the wordplay.
'strange' indicates anagramming the letters.
'tribe' anagrammed gives 'BITER'.
'comes from' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for biter that I've seen before include "Tribe (anag.)" , "One cutting" , "Someone eating" , "One may snap" , "Someone using their teeth" .)