noun. British slang. : a prison or police station.
Why do Brits call it the nick?
The noun, the nick, means a prison whereas the verb, to nick, means to steal. And, just to make things extra confusing, to be nicked or to get nicked means to be arrested.
What is the full meaning of nick?
to steal something: I’ve had my bike nicked again.
What is Nick in British slang?
Definition of the nick
British slang. : a prison or police station She spent a night in the nick.
What does Nik mean in British slang?
In slang nick N-I-C-K is a verb meaning to steal. For example “Susie’s phone got nicked at the party!” meaning Susie’s phone was stolen at the party.
What is the origin of Nick?
The noun is derived from Late Middle English nik (“notch, tally; nock of an arrow”). Its further etymology is unknown; a connection with nock (“notch in a bow to hold the bowstring; notch at the rear of an arrow that fits the bowstring; cleft in the buttocks”) has not been clearly established.
Why does Nick mean police station?
Because the very first policeman was called Bobby Nicholas, so when he arrested someone he said you’re nicked, that’s also where the term Bobby comes from for a local policeman.
What does old Nick stand for?
the devil;
Old Nick in American English
noun. informal. the devil; Satan.
Why does nick mean jail?
The Oxford English Dictionary says the use of the noun “nick” in the sense of a prison, especially one at a police station, is of Australian origin. The first published reference is from The Sydney Slang Dictionary (1882), which defines “the nick” as a “gaol.”
Is nick a French name?
The given name Nicolas is widely used in France (French pronunciation: [nikɔla]) and Brazil (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈnikolas]). The variant Nicolás (Spanish pronunciation: [nikoˈlas]) is widely used in Spanish-speaking countries.
Nicolas (given name)
| Gender | Male |
| Language(s) | French, Spanish |
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Word/name | Greek |
| Other names |
What is the British word for jail?
In the UK, as Gemma noted, people tend to use the two words interchangeably, though the actual places today are called prisons, since they are part of Her Majesty’s Prison System. The things I know of that are called gaols are no longer in use.
What does slapper mean in UK?
a promiscuous woman
Definition of slapper
noun. British slang a promiscuous woman.
What are some slang words in the UK?
50 Must-Know British Slang Words and Phrases
- Bloke. “Bloke” would be the American English equivalent of “dude.”
- Lad. In the same vein as “bloke,” “lad” is used, however, for boys and younger men.
- Bonkers. Not necessarily intended in a bad way, “bonkers” means “mad” or “crazy.”
- Daft.
- To leg it.
- Trollied / Plastered.
- Quid.
- Dodgy.
What is the idiom of nick?
Definition of in the nick of time
informal. : just before the last moment when something can be changed or something bad will happen He decided to go just in the nick of time. The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.
What does a good nick mean?
it’s in good condition
When British people say ‘it’s in good nick’, we mean ‘it’s in good condition‘, especially if it’s something that’s very old but still looks new.
What does nick mean in the Bible?
In the Bible, Nicholas means ‘people of victory‘ and was given to one of the Seven Deacons.
Does Nick mean to steal?
nick verb [T] (STEAL)
to steal something: I’ve had my bike nicked again.
What do the British call the police station?
Nick – A police station.
Does Knick mean stealing?
If someone nicks something, they steal it. If the police nick someone, they arrest them.
Is Nick a English name?
Nick Origin and Meaning
The name Nick is both a boy’s name and a girl’s name of English origin. The classic strong-yet-friendly nickname name, much used for charming movie characters.
Is the name Nick rare?
Nick was the 1382nd most popular boys name. In 2021 there were 131 baby boys named Nick. 1 out of every 14,203 baby boys born in 2021 are named Nick.