nicor

Old English

Alternative forms

•  nicer

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *nikraz, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *neygʷ- (“to wash”). Cognate with Middle Dutch necker (Dutch nikker (“demon”)), Old High German nicchus (German Nix (“water sprite”)), Old Norse nykr (Faroese nykur, Swedish näck).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈni.kor/

Noun

nicor m (nominative plural nicoras)

1. water demon, water monster
2. hippopotamus

Declension

Strong a-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	nicor	nicoras
accusative	nicor	nicoras
genitive	nicores	nicora
dative	nicore	nicorum

Descendants

• Middle English: niker, nycker
  • English: nicker, nickel