n.
Variant: also nick · le
Pronunciation: ' ni-k ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: 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
Date: 1755
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 U.S. 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