Meaning of NICKEL in English


also nickle noun Etymology: probably from Swedish ~, from German Kupfer~ niccolite (mineral containing ~ arsenide) probably from Kupfer copper + Nickel goblin; from the deceptive copper color of niccolite Date: 1755 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, 2. a. the United States 5-cent piece regularly containing 25 percent ~ and 75 percent copper, the Canadian 5-cent piece, five cents, a packet containing five dollars worth of an illicit drug (as marijuana), a pass defense in football that employs five defensive backs
