The English suffix -nik is of Slavic origin. It approximately corresponds to the suffix "-er" and nearly always denotes an agent noun (that is, it describes a person related to the thing, state, habit, or action described by the word to which the suffix is attached). In the cases where a native English language coinage may occur, the "-nik"-word often bears an ironic connotation. History The suffix existed in English in a dormant state for a long time, in borrowed terms. An example is raskolnik, recorded by the Oxford English Dictionary as known since 1723. There have been two main waves of the introduction of this suffix into English language. The first was driven by Yinglish words contributed by Yiddish speakers from Eastern Europe. The second surge was observed after the launch of the first Sputnik satellite by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. In his book The American Language, first published in 1919, H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) credited the mania for adding "-nik" to the ends of adjectives to create nouns to Al Capp's American comic strip Li'l Abner (1934–1977) rather than to the influence of "Sputnik", first recorded in 1957, or "beatnik", first recorded in 1958. Vocabulary Mainstream Words of significant context or usage: Beatnik Chainik Refusenik Sputnik Casual Casual neologisms: Alrightnik: one who has been successful; nouveau riche Artnik, a UK publisher (defunct); the word predates its establishment Computernik: a computer geek Holdupnik: a robber Muttnik, the first dog in space Neatnik: a neat-freak Nogoodnik: a lazy, incompetent or malicious person Peacenik: a pacifist; a hippie Rudenik: a rude person Wordnik Jewish adaptation Words originally used by Jews of Europe, America, and Israel, often referring to concepts related to their experiences or things happening in Israel or among the Jewish people: Chabadnik or Habadnik: follower of Chabad Jobnik: a non-combat soldier who performs secretarial work Kadimanik: member of United Synagogue Youth's Kadima program Ka-tzetnik: a Nazi concentration camp prisoner or survivor, derived from abbreviation KZ, pronounced "Ka-tzet" Kibbutznik: member of a Kibbutz Lamedvavnik Likudnik: supporter of Israeli political party Likud Limmudnik: participant or attendee of Limmud events Mapainik: supporter of the historical Israeli labor party Moshavnik: member of a Moshav Mossadnik: Mossad agent Netzernik: Member of the Netzer Olami youth movement Nudnik: a nagging, boring or awkward person Shinuinik: supporter of Israeli political party Shinui Subbotnik: Russian religious movements of Christian origin, whom majority belonged to