The word "nil" is used primarily in British English to mean "nothing" or "zero." It often appears in contexts related to scores or tallies, indicating the absence of value or quantity. For example, in sports, a team that scores no points may be said to have a score of "nil."
The term "nil" originates from the Latin word "nihil," which means "nothing." It was adopted into English in the late 19th century, primarily used in the context of sports and mathematics.