NICKEL


Meaning of NICKEL in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ noun ]

also nick·le ˈni-kəl

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 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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.