134 Derivations of Mineral Names. 
The Sansk. karawa is the root of Gr. xopaé, L. corvus, It. corvo, 
Sp. cuorvo, Fr. corbeau, Engl. crow, G. Krdhe, Sw. Kraka, D. 
Kraye, on the one hand, and, on the other, of A.-Sax. cravan, 
O. H. G. hraban, G. Rabe, Fr. ravineux, Engl. raven. 
The derivation of Wolfram from Wolf and G. Rham=cream, is 
faulty. The Engl. name for G. wolfram is tungsten, der. Sw. tung- 
sten, from tung, heavy, and sten, stone. 
NICCOLITE, in this form of orthography, is derived from N. L. 
niccolum, the metallic element, formerly nickelum (latter part of 
eighteenth century). The Goth. nickr or nickl, A.-Sax. nier or nicor, 
Icel. nikr (related to Icel. hnickia=to seize and carry off), was a 
demon who inhabited pools of water and drew down his victims 
with irresistible force until they were drowned. From the above 
is derived the G. Nixe, a female water-spirit, who was not always 
cruel, but sometimes gave her valuable services to unhappy lovers 
and others who sought her aid. The G. masculine Mix belongs to 
the same family, but was a morose, objectionable character. His 
name serves to this day in Germany to drive children away from 
water. From the same source we have obtained the appellation 
“ Nick,” commonly used as “ Old Nick,’ now employed as a nom de 
plume for the chief of the infernal regions, although the original 
association of the name with water is hardly in keeping with the 
orthodox conception of this warmly-located ruler. 
In O. H. G. nickel signifies a small horse, especially a vicious 
one; also a dwarf. The A.-Sax. nag is related to it. Locally, the 
idea of a dwarf or stunted animal of any kind was modified into the 
personification of a malicious, mischievous spirit. In this connec- 
tion, the words Engl. nagging (from A.-Saxon) and G. necken, to 
tease, were used, 
The German miners frequently found ores which looked very 
promising, but, upon being smelted, they produced no silver: on 
the contrary, they emitted foul and noxious odors. The most natu- 
ral explanation, at that time, seemed to show that wicked, envious 
spirits had changed the ores, or even infested them: whereupon the 
terms nickel and kobold were freely applied to such disturbing ele- 
would. ‘‘ Er (wolfram) betreugt die Berglente gar sehr, weil er mit dem 
Zinnstein vor dem Wasser stehet und im Schmeltzen das Zinn raubet.” 
(Bergwerck’s Lexicon, 1743.) Wolfram was also used for some arsenical 
ores which are objectionable in the furnace. (Mineral, Belustigungen, 
1768.) 
