Present participle of nick; making small cuts or notches in something. In British slang, can mean stealing or arresting.
From Middle English 'nik,' possibly related to Old Norse 'hnykja' meaning 'to thrust.' The basic meaning of making small cuts developed first, with the slang meanings emerging later. The British slang sense of 'stealing' dates from the 18th century, while 'arresting' comes from early 20th century police terminology.
The word 'nick' has spawned the phrase 'in the nick of time,' which originally referred to making a precise notch or cut at exactly the right moment - like an archer nicking the target perfectly. British detective shows have made 'nicking' (meaning arresting) familiar worldwide, though Americans might be confused when a British character says someone was 'nicked' for speeding!
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