Nickar

Nickar

Nickar is a demon or spirit in the Dictionnaire Infernal. In Scandinavian, Teutonic and Saxon mythology, Nickar are malevolent water spirits who drown people, torment fisherman, tip over boats and throw them to the tops of shore-side trees. According to mythology, Nickars or Hnickars patrol the waters of Scandinavian fjords, where they cause tempests, hurricanes, hailstorms and blizzards. They have fish-like tails and often sit by the water combing each other's long green or blonde hair with seaweed, playing a harp or singing. Like the Sirens, they drag to the bottom of the sea anyone who ventures too close.

Nickar are descendended from the Mermen and Mermaids, or from the Nymphs of the Elbe and the Gaal, the Nixies (Teutonic) which are kind, loving benevolent water spirits, known to rescue wayward fishermen. These lesser water divinities will sometimes leave the water to attend nearby celebrations and dance or fire festivals, where they dance and greet local fishermen.

It has been suggested that "Old Nick", one of the colloquial English names for the devil, is derived from Nickar, but it seems more likely to be a contraction of the personal name "Nicholas" instead.[1]

References

  1. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary" (HTTP). http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=n&p=4. Retrieved 2007-09-26. 

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nickar nut — Nick ar nut , Nickar tree Nick ar tree (Bot.) Same as {Nicker nut}, {Nicker tree}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nickar tree — Nickar nut Nick ar nut , Nickar tree Nick ar tree (Bot.) Same as {Nicker nut}, {Nicker tree}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nickar nut — Nicker nut Nick er nut A rounded seed, rather smaller than a nutmeg, having a hard smooth shell, and a yellowish or bluish color. The seeds grow in the prickly pods of tropical, woody climbers of the genus {C[ae]salpinia}. {C[ae]salpinia Bonduc}… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nickar tree — Nicker tree Nick er tree (Bot.) The plant producing nicker nuts. [Written also {neckar tree} and {nickar tree}.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nickar — …   Useful english dictionary

  • nickar nut — variant of nicker nut …   Useful english dictionary

  • Hold Nickar — Hold Nickar, aunque sea relacionado por algunos con Nickar (nikr o nicor, un demonio escandinavo de las aguas), parece ser, en la verdad, una corruptela de Hjaldr Hnikar, uno de los títulos del dios teutónico Odín y que significa «Incitador de… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Nickernut — Nickernuts in fruit from C. bonduc Nickernuts or nickar nuts are smooth, shiny seeds from tropical leguminous shrubs, particularly Caesalpinia bonduc and C. major,[1] both known by the common name warri tree. C. bonduc produces gray nickernuts …   Wikipedia

  • nicker-tree — ˈnicker tree var. of nickar tree s.v. nickar …   Useful english dictionary

  • Caesalpinia Bonduc — Nicker nut Nick er nut A rounded seed, rather smaller than a nutmeg, having a hard smooth shell, and a yellowish or bluish color. The seeds grow in the prickly pods of tropical, woody climbers of the genus {C[ae]salpinia}. {C[ae]salpinia Bonduc}… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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