Etymology

nix

N1I1X8

Today it means: Nothing. Full definition →

First used 1789German nix
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nix · noun, verb, interjection1

  1. German · borrowed fromnix
  2. English todaynix

From German nix, colloquial form of nichts (“nothing”). Compare also Dutch niks (“nothing”), informal for niets (“nothing”). More at naught.

nix · noun2

  1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*neygʷ-“to wash”
  2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*nikwus“water-spirit; nix”
  3. Old High German · derived fromnichus
  4. Middle High German · derived fromnickes
  5. German · derived fromNix
  6. English todaynix

From German Nix, from Middle High German nickes, niches, from Old High German nichus, nihhus, from Proto-Germanic *nikwus (“water-spirit; nix”), from Proto-Indo-European *neygʷ- (“to wash”). Cognate with Old English nicor (“a water-monster; hippopotamus”) whence English nicker.

Nix · proper noun3

Named after the mother of Charon, goddess of darkness and night.

Nix · proper noun4

From Nick, diminutive of the given name Nicholas + patronymic suffix -s.

Nix · proper noun5

Clipping of Phoenix.

Words from the same roots

Middle High Germannickes all →

nixie

Proto-Germanic*nikwus all →

nixie

Proto-Indo-European*neygʷ- all →

nixie

First known use, by meaning

  • from 1789 Nothing.
  • from 1903 To make something become nothing; to reject or cancel.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.