Nick refers both to a prison cell and to the process of a police officer arresting someone. I suspect that the slang nick meaning to steal led to this meaning as arresting is taking someone away which, in turn, led to the slang for a prison cell.
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Why are police stations called the nick?
The Oxford English Dictionary says that use is of Australian origin. The first published reference as “the nick” meaning a gaol or cells at a police station is from 1882 in The Sydney Slang Dictionary. It presumably expanded to mean the whole building.
What is a nick in British slang?
Definition of the nick
British slang. : a prison or police station She spent a night in the nick.
What do British people call the police station?
London’s “Bobbies on the Beat“
Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the London police in 1829, was the source of the bobby nickname. The London police were called “bobbies” after Peel; the diminutive for his first name, Robert, is “Bob,” hence the nickname for the London police.
What does it mean to get nicked in England?
to steal
British Slang. to arrest (a criminal or suspect). to capture; nab. to steal: Someone nicked her pocketbook on the bus.
Why do British police say mum?
What you are hearing is not mum as in mother, but ma’am, contraction of madam, with a strongly reduced vowel. In British English, it is mostly used as a sign of repect for a woman of superior rank, say, in the military or police.
What does slapper mean in British?
a promiscuous woman
Definition of slapper
noun. British slang a promiscuous woman.
What is the British word for jail?
In the UK, as Gemma noted, people tend to use the two words interchangeably, though the actual places today are called prisons, since they are part of Her Majesty’s Prison System. The things I know of that are called gaols are no longer in use.
What is the slang term for nick?
In slang nick N-I-C-K is a verb meaning to steal. For example “Susie’s phone got nicked at the party!” meaning Susie’s phone was stolen at the party. The verb “nick” can be traced back to the late 16th century meaning trick or cheat.
What does nick mean in USA?
The definition of a nick is a small, shallow cut or notch, or a male’s name. An example of a nick is a tiny cut from shaving. An example of Nick is a shortened version of Nicholas. noun.
What are cops called in London?
bobby, slang term for a member of London’s Metropolitan Police derived from the name of Sir Robert Peel, who established the force in 1829. Police officers in London are also known as “peelers” for the same reason.
Where did you’re nicked come from?
The word is used teasingly or provocatively, usually between males. It originated as an ironic reference to a morose person.The 1806 example of “nicked” that Partridge cites is actually from 1805—from “A Dialogue Between Captain Bull and His Ship’s Crew,” in The Spirit of the Public Journals for 1805 (1806).
Why do British people say bloody?
Bloody. Don’t worry, it’s not a violent word… it has nothing to do with “blood”.”Bloody” is a common word to give more emphasis to the sentence, mostly used as an exclamation of surprise. Something may be “bloody marvellous” or “bloody awful“. Having said that, British people do sometimes use it when expressing anger…
Why do British people say Zed?
The British and others pronounce “z”, “zed”, owing to the origin of the letter “z”, the Greek letter “Zeta”. This gave rise to the Old French “zede”, which resulted in the English “zed” around the 15th century.
What are policemen called in Scotland?
Poileas Alba
Police Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Poileas Alba), legally named the Police Service of Scotland (Seirbheis Phoilis na h-Alba), is the national police force of Scotland.
Police Scotland.
| Police Scotland Poileas Alba (Scottish Gaelic) | |
|---|---|
| Police officers | 17,241 full-time officers approx. 500 special constables |
| Others | 5,600 police staff |
Why are tarts called Tarts?
“small pie,” late 14c., from Old French tarte “flat, open-topped pastry” (13c.), possibly an alteration of torte, from Late Latin torta “round loaf of bread” (in Medieval Latin “a cake, tart”), perhaps from past participle of torquere “to twist” (from PIE root *terkw- “to twist”).
What’s an open face?
Having a face that seems to exhibit honesty and sincerity. 2. Having a side uncovered: an open-faced sandwich.
What does Soiler mean?
Noun. soiler (plural soilers) One who, or that which, soils.
What’s a pretty in jail?
Pruno, or prison wine, is an alcoholic liquid made from apples, oranges, fruit cocktail, ketchup, sugar, bread, and possibly other ingredients. Pruno originated in prisons, where it can be produced cheaply, easily, and discreetly. Detainees pass in front of barracks at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange.
What is a kite in jail?
One such word is “kite.” In a jail or a prison, the term “kite” refers to a written request for something. Kites can be made for anything, but those of us in the medical department deal with medical kites.
What do prisoners call guards?
BOSS: A term used by inmates to refer to officers working as guards.