Niche, nich, n. a recess in a wall for a statue, vase, &c.: a person's proper place or condition in life or public estimation, one's appointed or appropriate place.—v.t. to place in a niche.—adj. Niched, placed in a niche. [Fr.,—It. nicchia, a niche, nicchio, a shell—L. mytilus, mitulus, a sea-mussel.]
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′ėr, 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′nām, 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. Nicō′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. Nicotiā′na, the literature of tobacco.—n. Nic′otinism, a morbid state induced by excessive misuse of tobacco.
Nictate, nik′tāt, v.i. to wink—also Nic′titate.—ns. Nic′tātion, Nictitā′tion.—Nictitating membrane, a thin movable membrane covering the eyes of birds. [L. nictāre, -ātum.]
Nidder, nid′ėr, v.t. (Scot.) to keep under: to pinch with cold or hunger: to molest.