nixie

English

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈnɪksi/

Etymology 1

From German Nixe, feminine of Nix, from Middle High German nickes, from Old High German nihhus (“water-elf, crocodile”). Cognate with Old English nicor (“water-elf, hippopotamus, walrus”) (English nicker).

Noun

nixie (plural nixies)

1. A female water-elf.
   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:

     Bare from her garters up her flesh appears under the sapphire a nixie’s green.

Etymology 2

nix +‎ -ie

Noun

nixie (plural nixies)

1. A piece of mail returned as undeliverable.

   • mailers may also receive information on addresses that are undeliverable for reasons other than a customer move (i.e., nixie notifications) — United States Postal Service Address Change Service description