5 entries under this word
n. [A-S. nicor, nìcr, a marine monster, D. nìkker, Icel. nìkr, nykr, nennir, Dan. nòk, nòcken, O. H. Ger. nichus, niki-hus, nihhus, a crocodile.] (Northern Myth.) An evil spirit of the waters; hence, the modern vulgar phrase, Old Nick, the evil one; the devil.
n. [A modification of nock, q. v. Cf. A-S. nicklian, to bend in, genicled, hooked.]
v. t. [imp. & p. p. NICKED (nĭkt); p. pr. & vb. n. NICKING.] [See supra.]
Sense 1. To cut in nicks or notches; to make a nick or nicks in; to notch; as, to nick a stick, tally, &c.
Scarce lacked that thunderbolt of the falling beam, Which nicked me on the forehead as I passed. E. B. Browning.
Sense 2. Hence, to break to pieces, as by cutting nicks or notches in. “And thence proceed to nicking sashes.” Prior.
Sense 3. To suit or fit into, as one nick or notch into another.
Words nicking and resembling one another are applicable to different significations. Camden.
To nick a horse, to make an incision at the root of a horse’s tail, in order to make him carry it higher.
n. [Icel. hnickia, to seize and carry off, to snatch, drag, or hurry away; hnicker, a violent taking, rape, wile.] A hit; a fortunate conjuncture; the exact point or time; a winning throw. “To cut it off in the very nick.” Howell.
This nick of time is the critical occasion for the gaining of a point. L’Estrange.
v. t. [See supra.] 1. To hit; to touch luckily; to strike at the precise point or time.
The just season of doing things must be nicked, and all accidents improved. L’Estrange.
Sense 2. Hence, to make a hit at; to gain an advantage over; to touch by a trick or unexpected turn; to cozen; to defeat.
The itch of his affection should not then Have nicked his captainship at such a point. Shak.
Sense 3. Also, to hit with a telling name or epithet; to style; to call. [Obs.]
For Warbeck, as you nick him, came to me. Ford.