Old Nick

A term for the Devil, first used in the seventeenth century. It is possible related to a German goblin called Nickel. See also Old Scratch.

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Samual Butler refers to Niccolò Machiavelli as Old Nick:

Nick Machiavel had ne'er a trick
(Though he gave name to our Old Nick).
Hubidras, III, i.

References

Source

  • Cooper, J.C., ed. (1997). Brewer's Book of Myth and Legend. Oxford: Helicon Publishing Ltd.