1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xix. (1852), 170. He resolved . . . to place himself upon the footing of a country gentleman of easy fortune, without assuming . . . any of the faste which was then considered as characteristic of a nabob.
1834. Baboo, i., vii., 18. Though no king, I wait for no man, not even for a nuwab.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair (1867), i. They say all Indian nabobs are enormously rich.
1852. Savage, R. Medlicot, ii. x. (1864). 'How particularly great he is to-night; he reminds me of a nabob!' 'Nabobbery itself,' said Hyacinth.
1862. Thackeray, Philip, xiv. The days of nabobs are long over, and the General had come back . . . with only very small means for the support of a great family.
1872. E. Braddon, Life in India, i., 4. The English flag was raised over the kingdom once ruled by Mogul, Rajah, and nuwaub.
1878. Lecky, Eng. in 18th Cent., xiii. The Indian adventurer, or, as he was popularly called, the nabob, was now a conspicuous . . . figure in Parliament.
Nabs on, subs. phr. (thieves').—A
hall-mark.
1889. Richardson, Police, 320, s.v. Watch.
Nace.—See Nase.
Nack.—1. See Knack.
2. (thieves').—See quot and cf. Nag.
1889. Richardson Police, 320. A horse. A prad, nack, four-runner.
Nackers, subs. pl. (common).—The
testes: see Cods.—Jamieson
(1880).
Nacky, adj. (old).—Ingenious; full of knacks (q.v.) or dexterity. Also nackie.—Grose (1785); Jamieson (1808); Matsell (1859).
d.1758. Ramsey, Elegy on John Cowper [Jamieson] He was right naikie in his way.
Naf, subs. (back-slang).—The
female pudendum: see Monosyllable
and Fanny.—Halliwell
(1847).
Nag, subs. (colloquial).—1. A
horse; a mount (q.v.): see Prad.
Also naggon, naggie or naggy,
and (Scots') = a horse of blood.
c.1189. Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.) 1., 7727. He neyt as a nagge at his nosethrilles!
c.1596. Dick o' the Cow. [Child, Ballads, vi., 80]. Yet here is a white-footed nagie, I think he'll carry both thee and me.
1598. Shakespeare, 1 Hen. IV., iii., 1, 135. Like the forced gait of a shuffling nag.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 1, 287. I saw but one horse in all Venice . . . and that was a little bay nagge.
1624-45. Spalding, Troubles in Scotland (1850), ii., 183. [Jamieson]. The ladies came out with two grey plaids, and gat two work naigs, which bore them into Aberdeen.
1630. Taylor, Workes [Nares]. My verses are made, to ride every jade, but they are forbidden, of jades to be ridden, they shall not be snaffled, nor braved nor baffled, wert thou George with thy naggon, that foughtst with the draggon.
1692. L'Estrange, Fables. A hungry lion would fain have been dealing with good horseflesh; but the nag was too fleet.
d.1721 Prior [Johnston]. Thy nags, the leanest things alive, So very hard thou lov'st to drive.
1755. Johnston, Eng. Dict., s.v. Nag. A horse in familiar language.
d.1796. Burns, Tam o' Shanter, 3. That every naig was ca'd a shoe on The smith and thee gat roaring fou on
1836 H. M. Milner, Turpin's Ride to York, i., 3. If your mistress is only as true to you as my nag is to me.
1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, xxxviii. Old boy was splendacious, did everything one wanted—good nag to ride, good shooting, capital cellar—let you smoke where you like—no end!
1887. Henley, Villon's Straight Tip, i. Or fake the broads, or fig a nag.
