nixie
1[ nik-see ]
/ ˈnɪk si /
noun
a letter or parcel that is undeliverable by the post office because of a faulty or illegible address.
Nearby words
nivernais, nivkh, nivôse, nix, nixer, nixie, nixie tube, nixon, nixon doctrine, nixon, richard, nixon, richard milhous
Definition for nixie (2 of 2)
nixie
2[ nik-see ]
/ ˈnɪk si /
noun German Folklore.
a female water spirit.
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Examples from the Web for nixie
British Dictionary definitions for nixie
nixie
/ (ˈnɪksɪ) /
noun
German myth a female water sprite, usually unfriendly to humans
Word Origin for nixie
C19: see nix
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for nixie
nixie
"water fairy," 1816 (introduced by Sir Walter Scott), from German Nixie, from Old High German nihhussa "water sprite," fem. of nihhus, from Proto-Germanic *nikwiz (cf. Old Norse nykr, Old English nicor "water spirit, water monster," also used to gloss hippopotamus; Grendel's mother in "Beowulf" was a nicor), perhaps from PIE *neigw- "to wash" (cf. Sanskrit nenkti "washes," Greek nizo "I wash," Old Irish nigid "washes").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper