Where does “nick” come from?

Nick derives from English nickname, which combines English nix with the diminutive suffix English -y, ultimately from Latin -ivus and Latin -ia through Middle English eke and Middle French -ie.

nick (English): A small cut in a surface; Senses connoting...

Definitions

  1. A small cut in a surface; Senses connoting...

Ancestry of “nick”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishniknotch, tally; nock of an arrow
2Old Frenchniche
3Old Frenchnichierto nest
4Latinnīdusnest
5Proto-Italicnizdosnest
6Proto-Indo-Europeannisdósnest
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁nidown
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁énin
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁én
nick — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer