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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Nik, n. Also: nick(e, nict, nek. [e.m.E. nyke (Cath. Angl.), nycke, nick(e, etc., of obscure origin (but ? cf. Nok n.² and snik v. and snek v.)For a possible earlier Sc. example, see Nek n.³]

1. A small notch or incision. 1603 Crim. Trials II. 422.
A peice raw flesche, quhairvpone he maid nyne nekkis 1692 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes 22 Apr.
Till therefter he saw Henderson take off hir crocecloath and two little niks upon the foirhead

b. Appar., a small piece cut away so as to leave an incision. 1603 Inverness Rec. II. 19, 20.
Thou … cuttit four nickis of his coit … and promissit to erd the samyn … bot … thou cuist the saidis four nickis of his coit in the … burn

c. fig. A ‘cut’, a sharp stroke. 1651 Johnston Diary II. 55.
It is a strainge nik of providence that when this airmy should goe to the feilds, their head should fall seake a1689 Cleland 106.
I must confess the contradict Gave my old frozen heart a nict

2. ? A notch in a tally-stick (cf. Nik-stik n.) as a method of reckoning; the amount of anything represented by each such notch. 1673 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt.
Of coall-nick 1692 Ib. 5 Nov.
For 56 nicks at the gine at 14 shill. per nick

3. A narrow gap in a range of hills.Said of a place in south Scotland and north. England (Hounam, Roxburghsh.). Also in the mod. dial. of south-west Scotl. and of Lancashire. 1606 Crim. Trials II. 519.
Thay baith mett togidder at the nik of the fell and hering … the countrey to follow thame, thay baith fled in Ingland