Knick
/nɪk/noun
A quick, sharp bend or notch; in some uses, a small break or flaw.
Did you know?Knick is an old Germanic word-family survivor, tied to the same ancient root that gave English “nick,” where the idea is not magic but a physical notch or cut that language kept sharpening over time.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gneh₂-
“to knead, press, or bend”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*knik-
“to bend, notch, or make a sharp turn”
Middle Low German / Dutch
Germanic
knik
“a bend, kink, or notch”
Early Modern English
English
knick
“a notch, nick, or small break”
Modern English
English
knick
“a small notch, dent, or sharp bend”