Nick

Origin of: Nick

Nick

In the sense of to steal is British slang from the mid-19th century, whereas nicked meaning to be arrested by the police is earlier from the late 18th century, from which nick, meaning prison, is derived. A nick in cricket is to cut or strike the ball with the edge of the bat and dates from the early 19th century. See also in good nick, in the nick of time and Old Nick.