nick1

 
Pronunciation: /nɪk/

noun

  • 1a small cut or notch: a small nick on his wrist
  • 2 (the nick) British informal prison: he’ll end up in the nick for the rest of his life
  • a police station: he was being fingerprinted in the nick
  • 3the junction between the floor and side walls in a squash court or real tennis court.

verb

[with object]
  • 1make a nick or nicks in: he had nicked himself while shaving
  • 2British informal steal: she nicked fivers from the till
  • (nick someone for) North American informal cheat someone of (a sum of money): banks will be nicked for an extra $40 million
  • 3British informal arrest (someone): Stuart and Dan got nicked for burglary

Phrases

in —— nick

British informal in a specified condition: you’ve kept the car in good nick

in the nick of time

only just in time: the rescue came in the nick of time

Origin:

late Middle English: of unknown origin