What does the cryptic crossword clue "Crack line taken from Dickensian villain (4)" mean?

The definition is "Crack". The wordplay uses a deletion. QUIP (deletion) = QUIP; definition: "Crack" The answer is QUIP.

Crack line taken from Dickensian villain (4)

Times Cryptic #28947 | 24 Down | 2024-06-19 flower