nicker
1 Americannoun
verb
-
(of a horse) to neigh softly
-
to laugh quietly; snigger
noun
Etymology
Origin of nicker1
First recorded in 1660–70; nick + -er 1
Origin of nicker2
First recorded in 1785–95; apparently variant of nicher, neigher, frequentative of neigh; -er 6
Origin of nicker3
First recorded in 1875–80; perhaps special use of nicker 1
Explanation
Horses don't just whinny and neigh — they also nicker. The horse you've been visiting with carrots every afternoon might nicker softly when she sees you coming. The word nicker comes from Scottish and North England dialect. Horse experts will tell you that while a neigh is usually louder, often a call to people or other horses, a nicker is a softer sound, more of a vibration of the vocal cords. Mares nicker gently at their new foals, and many horses nicker at their favorite humans.
Vocabulary lists containing nicker
Orbiting Jupiter
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Milkweed
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
War Horse
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was standing in the back of his stall, but when he heard my voice, he gave a low nicker and walked to the front.
From Washington Post • Jun. 5, 2012
Reagan waited nearly four hours for a nicker of flexibility, any tiny gesture of accommodation.
From Time Magazine Archive
Early last week there was a nicker of progress.
From Time Magazine Archive
The client is a toff London tough lodged in Dublin's Mountjoy penitentiary, and the price is 5,000 nicker.
From Time Magazine Archive
The horses nicker and stamp as we leave.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
