First recorded in 1870–75
First recorded in 1880–85
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He took out a nickel plate that bore his name.
From The Skipper and the Skipped Being the Shore Log of Cap'n Aaron Sproul by Day, Holman
Her name in full appeared staring at her from the nickel plate of the dog's collar.
From The Fifth Wheel A Novel by Prouty, Olive Higgins
The modern flats were delightfully airy, high up in the sun, their floors were hard-wood, their bath-rooms tiled, their kitchens all tempting enamel, and nickel plate, and shining new wood.
From Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby by Norris, Kathleen Thompson
This film is not a coating added on the outside like paint and enamel or tin and nickel plate.
From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Slosson, Edwin E.
In the sense of the poet Goethe—that meek idolater of provincial three carat royalty and nobility—our press is certainly bankrupt in the "thrill of awe"—otherwise reverence; reverence for nickel plate and brummagem.
From The American Claimant by Twain, Mark
The trick that had to be done was to nickel-plate them inside.
From Time Magazine Archive
If it has a bone handle and nickel-plate finish besides, the customer cannot get his money out fast enough.
From Time Magazine Archive
That nickel-plate was, I confess, a happy thought," said Nick; "and it was the more necessary because I had become somewhat scratched during my adventurous experiences.
From The Marvelous Land of Oz by Baum, L. Frank (Lyman Frank)
It is all white tiling and shining nickel-plate, as easy to keep clean as a china dish, and just a delight to work in.
From The Little Colonel's Chum: Mary Ware by Barry, Etheldred B. (Etheldred Breeze)
Often Martie and Teddy had their supper at Childs', in the clean warm brightness of marble and nickel-plate.
From Martie, the Unconquered by Norris, Kathleen Thompson
Rogue Paq Poppy Party Ashtray – The ultimate host’s ashtray, the Poppy Party Ashtray looks like a beautiful poppy, in polished brass or nickel-plated finishes.
From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2025
Equal parts object of design and functionality, this accordion-style corkscrew wine opener is made of nickel-plated steel and was first invented in France in the 1920s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 27, 2024
For nearly two decades, karak — an elixir of sugar, dehydrated milk and cardamom-infused tea — has largely been the same price, just one nickel-plated steel dirham coin.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 24, 2022
Its rounded lower curve rested in Clark’s lap while he bear-hugged the nickel-plated instrument’s middle and the foot-thick bell horn bloomed above him.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 22, 2020
He bowled two of them aside in his lunge for the nickel-plated microphone, his eyes glittering wildly and his beefy face contorted with stress.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Faber invented the nickel-plating of pencil tips, pencil point protectors, rubber tips.
From Time Magazine Archive
It may be used to polish fine nickel-plating, for which purpose it is an excellent material.
From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua
The extensive nickel-plating that became a permanent fad in this country on the discovery of a special process some years ago, is all done by electrolysis.
From Steam, Steel and Electricity by Steele, James W.
The idle passengers, by this time mostly on speaking terms, begin to let the common metal of their real make-up show through the nickel-plating of the first interchange of courtesies.
From All Aboard A Story for Girls by Newberry, Fannie E.
Scales or circles divided on brass may be greatly improved in durability by nickel-plating.
From On Laboratory Arts by Threlfall, Richard
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
