Origin: 1700-1800 German kupfernickel substance containing nickel, from kupfer copper + nickel spirit that plays tricks; because the substance contains no copper, even though it looks like copper
1 [countable] a coin that is worth five cents, used in the U.S. or Canada2[uncountable] (symbol Ni)science, chemistry a hard silver-white metal that is an element and is used in making other metals [Origin: 1700–1800 German kupfernickel substance containing nickel, from kupfer copper + nickel spirit that plays tricks; because the substance contains no copper, even though it looks like copper]