Nickes

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. Chips or cuts a small notch into a surface ; takes something that belongs to another person without permission ; apprehends a person and takes them into custody
2. Makes a slight indentation or cut in an object ; pilfers or secretly takes property belonging to someone else ; seizes a suspect and detains them for the police
3. Creates a tiny gouge or notch in something ; swipes or purloins an item unlawfully ; catches an offender and places them under arrest

Etymology: "Nickes" is the third-person singular form of the verb "nick" and the plural of the noun. The noun, meaning a small notch or cut, is recorded in English from the 1500s, and its origin is uncertain. It may be related to the older "nock", the notch at the end of an arrow that holds the string. The verb's original sense was simply to mark something with a notch. Notches were also used for keeping tallies, and this may explain the phrase "in the nick of time", which likely refers to the exact notch where a count was recorded. The senses of stealing and arresting came later, in slang, and their exact routes into English are not firmly documented.