Old Nick
Preserved but no longer current.
The Devil. The term was in use in the 17th century, and is perhaps connected with the German Nickel, a goblm (see NICKEL), or in some forgotten way with St. Nicholas. Butler's derivation from Nicholas Machiavelli is, of course, poetical licence : — Nick Machiavel had ne'er a trick (Though he gives name to our old Nick) But was below the least of these.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Old Nick” mean?
The Devil. The term was in use in the 17th century, and is perhaps connected with the German Nickel, a goblm (see NICKEL), or in some forgotten way with St. Nicholas. Butler's derivation from Nicholas Machiavelli is, of course, poetical licence : — Nick Machiavel had ne'er a trick (Though he gives name to our old Nick) But was below the least of these.
Is “Old Nick” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.