nix!
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The signal word of schoolboys and workpeople to each other that the master, or other person in authority, is approaching.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “nix!” mean?
The signal word of schoolboys and workpeople to each other that the master, or other person in authority, is approaching.
Is “nix!” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.