​NIXIE, or Nixy, a female water-sprite. The word is adapted from Ger. Nixe, the male water-sprite being Nix. The general term covering both the male and female is “nicker,” a kelpie. This also appears in Dutch nikker. The Old Teutonic nikus may be connected with the root which appears in Gr. νίζειν or νίπτειν, “to wash.”