Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Nickel \Nick"el\, n. [G., fr. Sw. nickel, abbrev. from Sw.
   kopparnickel copper-nickel, a name given in derision, as it
   was thought to be a base ore of copper. The origin of the
   second part of the word is uncertain. Cf. {Kupfer-nickel},
   {Copper-nickel}.]
   1. (Chem.) A bright silver-white metallic element. It is of
      the iron group, and is hard, malleable, and ductile. It
      occurs combined with sulphur in millerite, with arsenic in
      the mineral niccolite, and with arsenic and sulphur in
      nickel glance. Symbol Ni. Atomic weight 58.6.

   Note: On account of its permanence in air and inertness to
         oxidation, it is used in the smaller coins, for plating
         iron, brass, etc., for chemical apparatus, and in
         certain alloys, as german silver. It is magnetic, and
         is very frequently accompanied by cobalt, both being
         found in meteoric iron.

   2. A small coin made of or containing nickel; esp., a
      five-cent piece. [Colloq. U.S.]

   {Nickel silver}, an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc; --
      usually called {german silver}; called also {argentan}.

Source : WordNet®

nickel silver
     n : a silver-white alloy containing copper and zinc and nickel
         [syn: {German silver}]