nickel

nick·el

noun \ˈni-kəl\

Definition of NICKEL

1

: a silver-white hard malleable ductile metallic element capable of a high polish and resistant to corrosion that is used chiefly in alloys and as a catalyst — see element table

2

a (1) : the United States 5-cent piece regularly containing 25 percent nickel and 75 percent copper (2) : the Canadian 5-cent piece b : five cents

3

slang : a packet containing five dollars worth of an illicit drug (as marijuana) —called also nickel bag

4

: a pass defense in football that employs five defensive backs

Variants of NICKEL

nick·el also nick·le \ˈni-kəl\

Origin of NICKEL

probably from Swedish nickel, from German Kupfernickel niccolite (mineral containing nickel arsenide) probably from Kupfer copper + Nickel goblin; from the deceptive copper color of niccolite

First Known Use: 1755

Related to NICKEL

nickeline

Rhymes with NICKEL

brickle, chicle, fickle, mickle, pickle, prickle, sickle, stickle, tical, tickle, trickle