nicker, probably from obsoletenickermarble, modification of Dutchknikker, fromknikkento crack, snap, from Middle Dutchcnicken, probably of imitative origin like Middle Low Germanknickento crack, snap, Middle High Germanknackento make a cracking noise ...
"tiny animal, minute arachnid," Old English mite "minute, parasitic insect or arachnid," from Proto-Germanic *miton (source also of Middle Dutch mite, Dutch mijt, Old High German miza, Danish mide) meaning originally perhaps "the cutter," in reference to its bite, from Proto-Germ ...