nixie

Meaning

Noun

• A female nix, a water-spirit.
• A piece of mail returned as undeliverable.

Origin

• From German Nixe, feminine of Nix, from Middle High German nickes, from Old High German nihhus ("water-elf, crocodile"), from Proto-Germanic *nikwus, *nikwis, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *neygʷ- ("to wash").
• Cognate with Old English nicor ("water-elf, hippopotamus, walrus"), English nicker.
• From nix + -ie.