In good nick

Posted by Colin Goddard on July 22, 2003

In Reply to: In good nick posted by ESC on July 21, 2003

I think the term nick refers to the old practice of cutting small bits of metal from gold coins, as a way of stealing a little gold from every coin. This gives rise to the term to 'nick' something, meaning to steal it, and being in good nick may refer to a coin that does not have too many nicks taken out of it.