Nonce
/nɒns/noun
A one-time or temporary use; in British slang, also a term for a sex offender.
Did you know?In computing, a "nonce" is a cryptographic number used only once, which is a perfect modern echo of the word’s original meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
for then anes
“for the once; for this one occasion”
15th Century
English
nonce
“a special or temporary occasion; in the phrase "for the nonce"”
19th Century
English
nonce
“a word or form coined for a single occasion, especially in linguistics”
20th Century
English
nonce
“British slang for a sex offender; also a prison term of abuse”
Modern English
English
nonce
“a one-time use thing, especially in computing and linguistics”