Etymology
() From Middle English nift, nifte, from Old English nift (“niece, granddaughter”), from Proto-Germanic *niftiz (“niece”), from Proto-Indo-European *nepoter-, *nepoder-, *nepo- (“grandchild, sister's son”). Cognate with West Frisian nicht (“cousin”), Dutch nicht (“niece, cousin”), Low Saxon Nijcht (“niece, cousin”), German Nichte (“niece”). Compare neve. More at niece.