NICK, nik, _n._ a notch cut into something: a score for keeping an account: the precise moment of time: a lucky throw at hazard.--_v.t._ to cut in notches: to hit the precise time: to strike as if making a nick: to cheat: catch in the act: to cut short: (_Scot._) to cut with a single snip, as of shears: to make a cut with the pick in the face of coal to facilitate blasting or wedging.--_adj._ NICK'-EARED, crop-eared.--_n._ NICK'ER, one who, or that which, nicks: a woodpecker: a street-ruffian in the early part of the 18th century.--NICK A HORSE'S TAIL, to make a cut at the root of the tail, making the horse carry it higher. [Another spelling of _nock_, old form of _notch_.]
NICK, nik, _n._ the devil, esp. OLD NICK. [Prob. a corr. of St _Nicholas_, or from A.S. _nicor_, a water-spirit; Ice. _nykr_, Ger. _nix_, _nixe_.]
NICKEL, nik'el, _n._ a grayish-white metal related to cobalt, very malleable and ductile.--_v.t._ to plate with nickel.--_ns._ NICK'ELAGE, NICK'ELURE, the art of nickel-plating.--_adjs._ NICK'ELIC, NICK'ELOUS; NICKELIF'EROUS, containing nickel.--_ns._ NICK'ELINE, NIC'COLITE, native nickel arsenide.--_v.t._ NICK'ELISE, to plate with nickel.--_ns._ NICK'EL-PLAT'ING, the plating of metals with nickel; NICK'EL-SIL'VER, German silver (see GERMAN). [Sw. _koppar-nickel_ (Ger. _kupfernickel_), _koppar_, copper, _nickel_, a word corresponding to Ger. _nickel_, the devil (cf. _Cobalt_ and _Kobold_), or to Ice. _hnikill_, a lump.]
NICKER, nik'[.e]r, _v.i._ to neigh: to snigger.--_n._ a neigh: a loud laugh--(_obs._) NICH'ER.
NICKNACK, nik'nak, _n._ a trifle--dim. NICK'NACKET.--_n._ NICK'NACKERY. [Same as _Knick-knack_.]
NICKNAME, nik'n[=a]m, _n._ a name given in contempt or sportive familiarity.--_v.t._ to give a nickname to. [M. E. _neke-name_, with intrusive initial _n_ from _eke-name_, surname; from _eke_ and _name_.]
NICOTINE, nik'o-tin, _n._ a poisonous, volatile, alkaloid base, obtained from tobacco.--_adj._ NIC[=O]'TIAN, pertaining to tobacco, from Jean _Nicot_ (1530-1600), the benefactor who introduced it into France in 1560.--_n._ a smoker of tobacco.--_n.pl._ NICOTI[=A]'NA, the literature of tobacco.--_n._ NIC'OTINISM, a morbid state induced by excessive misuse of tobacco.