Old Nick
/ˌoʊld ˈnɪk/noun
A folk name for the Devil.
Did you know?The name is a euphemistic English nickname for the Devil, and the “Nick” part may be linked to older Germanic names for a water-spirit or goblin-like being, showing how people softened fear with a familiar-sounding name.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
English
Old Nick
“A familiar euphemistic name for the Devil.”
Middle English
English
nik
“A nickname or goblin-like figure in some dialectal and folkloric uses.”
Old Norse
ON
nikarr
“A hostile spirit or demon-like being.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*nikwaz
“A water spirit or malevolent supernatural being (reconstructed).”
Modern English
English
Old Nick
“The Devil.”