1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie, s.v. Compter. One of saint Nicholas clerks, or an arrant theefe.
1633. Rowley, Match at Midnight [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), vii., 353]. I think yonder come prancing down the hills from Kingston a couple of hur tother cozens saint Nicholas's clerks.
1662. Wilson, The Cheats, i. I was t'other night upon the randan, and who should I meet with but our old gang, some of St. Nicholas' clerks?
Nick, subs. (American).—1. A five-cent
piece. [Abbreviation of
'nickel'].
2. (venery).—The female pudendum. Also nick in the notch. See Monosyllable.
c.1720. Old Song [Farmer, Merry Songs and Ballads (1897), iii., 223]. And in the nick he seiz'd her, She trembled, blush'd, and hung her head.
1736. The Cupid, p. 129. So in the nick the Nymph was finely fitted.
d.1749. Robertson of Struan, Poems, 186. And as one guides me to the nick, The other cries—Put up thy
1782. Stevens, Songs Comic and Satirycall, 'The Sentiment Song.' The nick makes the tail stand, the farrier's wife's mark!
3. See Old Nick.
4. (old).—A dent, or island, in the bottom of a beer can: cf. Kick. Hence nick and froth = (1) false measure; and (2) a publican.
d.1529. Skelton, Elynour Rummynge. Our pots are full quarted, We were not thus thwarted With froth-canne and nick pot.
1612. Rowland, Knave of Hearts, 13. We must be tapsters running up and downe With Cannes of beere (malt sod in fishes broth) And those they say are fil'd with nick and froth.
a.1625. Fletcher, Poems, 133. From the nick and froth of a penny pothouse.
1628. Life of Robin Goodfellow. There was a tapster, that with his pots smalnesse, and with frothing of his drinke, had got a good summe of money together. This nicking of the pots he would never have.
1661. Poor Robin. All we know of the matter is, that she [a conscientious hostess] still continues the nick and froth trade as usual.
1696. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Nickum. Nick and Froth built the Pye at Aldgate, sharping in the Reckonings and cheating in the measure built that (once) Noted House.
1822. Nares, Glossary, s.v. Nick. A deceptive bottom in a beer can, by which the customers were cheated, the nick below and the froth above filling up part of the measure.
5. (colloquial).—The exact or critical instant
1594. Look About You [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), vii., 459]. Come they in the nick To hinder Reynard of his fox's trick?
1611. Barry, Ram Alley [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), x., 286]. I have a trick, To second this beginning, and in the nick To strike it dead.
1621. Beaumont and Fletcher, Pilgrim. Now ye have hit the nick.
1633. Ford, Love's Sacrifice, ii., 2. Most fit opportunity! her grace comes just i' th' nick.
1655. Phillis of Scyros. And see when Nerea comes just in the nick.
1664. Wilson, Andronicus, v., i. Drama. Rest. (1874), i. 94. He catches at anything. This is our nick.
1708. Centlivre, Busie Body, ii., Sir Geo. Ads-heart, Madam, you won't leave me just in the nick, will you? Sir Fran. Ha, ha ha, She has nick'd you, Sir George, I think, Ha, ha, ha.
d.1716. South, Sermons, ix., ser. 4. God delivered them at the very nick of time.
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, &c., s.v. Nick. You are arrived in the nick of time, is addressed to one who comes in at the critical minute.
6. (gaming).—A winning throw at dice.
d.1721. Prior, Cupid and Ganymede. The usual trick, Seven, slur a six, eleven a nick.
Verb. (old).—1. To steal; and (2) to cheat. Fr. rifler.
