Niccals

Niccals are a type of cryptogram developed by Swiss philologist and cryptographer Wilfried Nippel and his American colleague Nicola S. in the 1970s. The niccal is a mesostic poem, which means that the first letter of each line spells out a word or phrase. However, unlike a traditional mesostic poem, the word or phrase is hidden in the middle of the word being spelled out, rather than at the top or bottom.

In a niccal, the word to be deciphered is typically hidden horizontally within a larger phrase or phrase combination. To decode the niccal, the reader must focus on the middle letter of each line, where the desired word will be revealed. This can make the niccal a more challenging and engaging form of wordplay compared to traditional mesostic poems.

Niccals have been used in various forms of literature and cryptography, but are not as widely popular as other types of cryptograms. Despite their relatively unknown status, niccals remain an interesting example of creative wordplay and a unique challenge for cryptographers and puzzle enthusiasts. Their construction requires a balance of linguistic and cryptographic skills, making them appealing for those who enjoy both word games and cryptography challenges.