The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Nick \Nick\ (n[i^]k), n. [AS. nicor a marine monster; akin to D.
   nikker a water spite, Icel. nykr, ONG. nihhus a crocodile, G.
   nix a water sprite; cf. Gr. ni`ptein to wash, Skr. nij. Cf.
   Nix.] (Northern Myth.)
   An evil spirit of the waters.
   [1913 Webster]

   Old Nick, the evil one; the devil. [Colloq.]
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Nick \Nick\, n. [Akin to Nock.]
   1. A notch cut into something; as:
      (a) A score for keeping an account; a reckoning. [Obs.]
      (b) (Print.) A notch cut crosswise in the shank of a type,
          to assist a compositor in placing it properly in the
          stick, and in distribution. --W. Savage.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. Hence: A broken or indented place in any edge or surface;
      as, nicks in a china plate; a nick in the table top.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A particular point or place considered as marked by a
      nick; the exact point or critical moment.
      [1913 Webster]

            To cut it off in the very nick.       --Howell.
      [1913 Webster]

            This nick of time is the critical occasion for the
            gaining of a point.                   --L'Estrange.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Nick \Nick\, v. t.
   To nickname; to style. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]

         For Warbeck, as you nick him, came to me. --Ford.
   [1913 Webster] Nickar nut

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Nick \Nick\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nicked (n[i^]kt); p. pr. &
   vb. n. Nicking.]
   1. To make a nick or nicks in; to notch; to keep count of or
      upon by nicks; as, to nick a stick, tally, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To mar; to deface; to make ragged, as by cutting nicks or
      notches in; to create a nick[2] in, deliberately or
      accidentally; as, to nick the rim of a teacup.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

            And thence proceed to nicking sashes. --Prior.
      [1913 Webster]

            The itch of his affection should not then
            Have nicked his captainship.          --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To suit or fit into, as by a correspondence of nicks; to
      tally with.
      [1913 Webster]

            Words nicking and resembling one another are
            applicable to different significations. --Camden.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To hit at, or in, the nick; to touch rightly; to strike at
      the precise point or time.
      [1913 Webster]

            The just season of doing things must be nicked, and
            all accidents improved.               --L'Estrange.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. To make a cross cut or cuts on the under side of (the tail
      of a horse, in order to make him carry it higher).
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

nick
    n 1: an impression in a surface (as made by a blow) [syn:
         dent, ding, gouge, nick]
    2: (British slang) a prison; "he's in the nick"
    3: a small cut [syn: notch, nick, snick]
    v 1: cut slightly, with a razor; "The barber's knife nicked his
         cheek" [syn: nick, snick]
    2: cut a nick into [syn: nick, chip]
    3: divide or reset the tail muscles of; "nick horses"
    4: mate successfully; of livestock

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):

nick

   [IRC] nickname.  On IRC, every user must pick a nick, which
   is sometimes the user's real name or login name, but is often
   more fanciful.  Compare handle.

   [Jargon File]


The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

nick
 n.

    [IRC; very common] Short for nickname. On IRC, every user must pick a
    nick, which is sometimes the same as the user's real name or login name,
    but is often more fanciful. Compare handle, screen name.