Nick \Nick\, n. [AS. nicor a marine monster; akin to D. nikker a water spite, Icel. nykr, ONG. nihhus a crocodile, G. nix a water sprite; cf. Gr. ? to wash, Skr. nij. Cf. Nix.]

(Northern Myth.) An evil spirit of the waters.

Old Nick, the evil one; the devil. [Colloq.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Nick \Nick\, n. [Akin to Nock.]

1. A notch cut into something; as:
   (a) A score for keeping an account; a reckoning. [Obs.]


   (b) (Print.) A notch cut crosswise in the shank of a type, to assist a compositor in placing it properly in the stick, and in distribution. --W. Savage.
   (c) A broken or indented place in any edge or surface; nicks in china.

2. A particular point or place considered as marked by a nick; the exact point or critical moment.

To cut it off in the very nick. --Howell.

This nick of time is the critical occasion for the gainger of a point. --L'Estrange.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Nick \Nick\, v. t. To nickname; to style. [Obs.]

For Warbeck, as you nick him, came to me. --Ford.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Nick \Nick\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nicked; p. pr. & vb. n. Nicking.]

1. To make a nick or nicks in; to notch; to keep count of or upon by nicks; as, to nick a stick, tally, etc.

2. To mar; to deface; to make ragged, as by cutting nicks or notches in.

And thence proceed to nicking sashes. --Prior.

The itch of his affection should not then Have nicked his captainship. --Shak.

3. To suit or fit into, as by a correspondence of nicks; to tally with.

Words nicking and resembling one another are applicable to different significations. --Camden.

4. To hit at, or in, the nick; to touch rightly; to strike at the precise point or time.

The just season of doing things must be nicked, and all accidents improved. --L'Estrange.

5. To make a cross cut or cuts on the under side of (the tail of a horse, in order to make him carry ir higher).

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)