nix
2
[niks] 
| (in Germanic folklore) a water spirit that draws its victims into its underwater home. |
1825–35; < G Nix, OHG nihhus; c. OE nicor water monster, ON nykr, Norw nøkk, Sw näck; cf. Skt nenekti (he) washes
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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| nix 1 (nĭks) n. Mythology A water sprite of German mythology, usually in human form or half-human and half-fish. [German, from Middle High German nickes, from Old High German nihhus.] |
| nix 2 (nĭks) n. Nothing. adv. Not so; no. tr.v. nixed, nix·ing, nix·es To forbid, refuse, or veto: Congress nixed the tax hike. [German dialectal, from Middle High German nihtes, genitive of niht, from Old High German niwiht : ni, not, no; see ne in Indo-European roots + wiht, thing; see wekti- in Indo-European roots.] |
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nix
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nix
in Germanic mythology, a water being, half human, half fish, that lives in a beautiful underwater palace and mingles with humans by assuming a variety of physical forms (e.g., that of a fair maiden or an old woman) or by making itself invisible. One of three attributes may betray the disguises of nixes: they are music lovers and excellent dancers, and they have the gift of prophecy. Usually malevolent, a nix can easily be propitiated with gifts. In some regions, nixes are said to abduct human children and to lure people into deep water to drown. According to some sources, nixes can marry human beings and bear human children.
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