Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The Devil; Satan.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun The devil; Satan

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell

Etymologies

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Examples

  • On the way home he stopped by the Lucky and bought four bottles of beer, a couple from Mexico, a lager from England called Old Nick and a Henry's.

    The Concrete Blonde Connelly, Michael, 1956- 1994

  • On the way home he stopped by the Lucky and bought four bottles of beer, a couple from Mexico, a lager from England called Old Nick and a Henry's.

    The Black Echo Connelly, Michael, 1956- 1992

  • Her kidnapper, dubbed Old Nick, is only a shadowy figure to Jack.

    Thestar.com - Home Page 2010

  • Other expressions, such as Old Nick, Old Harry, have found a home in Wales.

    Welsh Folk-Lore a Collection of the Folk-Tales and Legends of North Wales Elias Owen

  • While the story is sometimes terrifying, Donoghue consistently de-emphasizes Old Nick, a strategy that reflects Jack's limited perspective but also demonstrates that she has no intention of trafficking in the sexual charge of abduction thrillers.

    Emma Donoghue's "Room," reviewed by Ron Charles 2010

  • He has spent his whole life in an 11-by-11-foot backyard shed with his mother, who was kidnapped seven years earlier and imprisoned by a man whom mother and son call Old Nick.

    No Exit 2010

  • Although he's preternaturally observant, he rarely sees the scary man -- Old Nick -- who makes his mother's bed creak at night while he's "switched off in Wardrobe."

    Emma Donoghue's "Room," reviewed by Ron Charles 2010

  • Although he's preternaturally observant, he rarely sees the scary man -- Old Nick -- who makes his mother's bed creak at night while he's "switched off in Wardrobe."

    Emma Donoghue's "Room," reviewed by Ron Charles 2010

  • Update: Sleestak says in the comments that that's the mascot from Old Nick candy bars.

    The Unknown Monster of Brittany Michael May 2009

  • This is the legacy of Old Nick, as Sonus so euphemizingly portrays him – human desolation, misery and despair.

    [the dark one] alive, kicking and sentient [2] 2009

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