The word "nickelage" refers to the process of coating a metal object with a layer of nickel. The spelling of this word can be understood using IPA phonetic transcription. In IPA, "nickel" is pronounced as /'nɪkəl/, and "-age" is pronounced as /-ɪdʒ/. This explains why "nickelage" is spelled with two "e's" instead of one. The first "e" represents the short "i" sound in "nickel" while the second "e" represents the "schwa" sound in "-age". Overall, "nickelage" is a unique and specific term used in the metalworking industry.