NICK

n. & v. --n. 1 a small cut or notch. 2 Brit. sl. a a prison. b a police station. 3 (prec. by in with adj.) Brit. colloq. condition (in reasonable nick). 4 the junction between the floor and walls in a squash court. --v.tr. 1 make a nick or nicks in. 2 Brit. sl. a steal. b arrest, catch. øin the nick of time only just in time; just at the right moment. [ME: orig. uncert.]