1851-61. Mayhew, Lon. Lab., &c., iii., 153. I always come on to that scene with a white night-cap and a halter on my arm.
1884. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, iv., 9. [Three Plays, 62]. The gallows . . . How's a man to die with a night-cap on.
3. (old).—See Night-bird.
4. (common).—A wife: see Dutch.
Nightingale, subs. (military).—1.
See quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [Egan], s.v. Nightingale. A soldier who, as the term is, sings out at the halberts. It is a point of honour in some regiments, among the grenadiers never to cry out, or become nightingales, whilst under the discipline of the cat of nine tails; to avoid which, they chew a bullet.
2. (common).—A prostitute. See Barrack-hack and Tart.
3. See Spithead, Cambridgeshire, and Arcadian Nightingale.
Night-liner, subs. phr. (American).—A
night-walking cab: cf.
Owl-train.
Nighty (or Nightie), subs. (colloquial).—A
night-dress.
Nigit (or Nidget), subs. (old).—A
fool. See Buffle, and Cabbage-head.—B.
E. (c. 1696);
New Cant. Dict. (1725); Bailey
(1728); Matsell (1859).
d.1623. Camden, Works [Johnson]. There was one true English word of greater force than them all, now out of all use; it signifieth no more than abject, base-minded, false-hearted, coward, or nidget.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Nigit, a fool, seemingly a corruption and contraction of the words an idiot.
1867. Smyth, Sailors' Word-book, 497, s.v. Nidget. A coward. A term used in old times for those who refused to join the royal standard.
Nigler (or Niggler), subs. (old).—1.
A clipper of money; a
sweater (q.v.). See Nig.—B.
E. (1696); Grose (1785).
2. (venery).—A practical amorist: cf. niggle, sense 1; a performer (q.v.).
1659. Lady Alimony, ii., 5. This was a bold-faced niggler.
3. (old).—See quot.
1796. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Nigler. One who is clever and dextrous.
Nihil-ad-rem, adj. phr. (Winchester
College).—Vague; unconscious:
e.g., 'He sported
nihil-ad-rem duck.'
Nikin, subs. (old).—See quots.
1725. Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Nikin. A Natural, or very soft creature; also Isaac.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Nickin, nikey or nizey.
Nil, adj. (common).—Half; half
profits, etc.
Nilly-willy, adv. (old).—Nill
ye, will ye, whether you will
or no. [A familiar version of
the Latin, nolens-volens,
Generally written now, willy-nilly].
Nim, verb (old).—To seize, take,
or steal; to nab (q.v.). [A. S.,
niman = to take]. Whence nimmer
a thief, and nimming
theft, robbery.
1350. Will, of P. [E. E. T. S., 51, 1364]. How William went to here foos, & dede deliuerly nym the duk.
1369. Chaucer, Troilus, i., 242. Men reden not that folk han gretter witte Than they that han ben most with love ynome.
[?]. Harl. MS., 1701, f. 44. Goddes aungeles the soule nam And bare hyt ynto the bosum of Abraham.
