1834. Dowling, Othello Travestie, i. 1. For fear old Drab, when he comes back, should take it in his noddle To march me to the Duke with him.
1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, ii. ii. There's something in that, replied Miss Wren; you have a sort of an idea in your noddle sometimes.
Noddle-case, subs. (old).—A wig.
d.1680. T. Brown, Works, ii. 197. Next time you have occasion for a noddle-case.
Noddy (Nod, Noddie-Noddipole,
Noddy-pole, Noddy-pate, or
Noddy-peake), subs. (old).—1.
A simpleton: see Buffle and
Cabbage-head. Also Tom
Noddy.—Grose (1785).
1540. Heywood, Four P's [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), i. 360]. If I denied, I were a noddy.
1557. Sir Thos More, Works, 709. Or els so foolyshe, that a verye nody-poll nydote myght be ashamed to say it.
1562-63. Jack Juggler [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), ii. 130]. It would grieve my heart, so help me God, To run about the streets like a masterless nod.
1567. Edwards, Damon and Pithias [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), iv. 17]. Ere you came thither, poor I was somebody; The King delighteth in me, now I am but a noddy.
1589. Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, B. 1. xx. As we find of Irus the beggar, and Thersites the glorious noddie, whom Homer makes mentions of.
1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes. Coglione, a noddie, a foole.
1606. Return from Parnassus [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), ix. 102]. You that can play at noddy, or rather play upon noddies.
1610. Jonson, Alchemist, iv. 2. Nay, see; she will not understand him! Gull, noddy!
1611. Cotgrave, Dict., s.v. Benet. A simple, plaine, doltish fellow; a noddi-peake, a ninny-hammer, a pea-goose, a cox, a sillie companion.
1614. Terence in English. Vix tandem sensi stolidus. I now yet scarse perceive it, foole that I am; I now at length hardly understand with much adoe, whorson nodipol that I am.
1662. Rump Songs, ii. 55. There is another Proverb which every noddy, Will jeer the Rump with, and cry hodd-doddy, etc.
1675. Cotton, Scoffer Scofft [Works (1725), 203]. What would'st thou have me such a noddy.
1691-92. Gentlemen's Journal, Feb., p. 24. Diana, whom poetic noddies Would have us think to be some goddess.
1852. Judson, Myst. of New York, iv. Open a jewelry store, you noddy, 'ow 're you goin' to do that?
2. (old).—See quots.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Noddy a kind of buggy or one horse chaise, with a seat before it for a driver, used in and about Dublin in the manner of a hackney coach.
1847. Sketches of Ireland [quoted by Brewer]. The 'Set-down' was succeeded by the noddy, so called from its oscillating motion backwards and forwards.
d.1894. Stevenson, Treasure of Franchard. Jean-Marie led forth the doctor's noddy.
Adj. (old).—Simple; foolish.
1598. Shakspeare, Two Gentlemen, i. 1. S. She did nod, and I said, I. P. And that set together is noddy. S. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.
Knave noddy, subs. phr. (old).—The knave of trumps.—B. E. (c. 1696); Grose (1823).
1757. Foote, Author, ii. 1, Mod. Brit. Dram. (1811), V. 281. You want four, and I two and my deal: now knave noddy—no, hearts be trumps.
Noddy-headed, adj. (common).—1.
Witless.
2. (common).—Drunk: see Drinks and Screwed.
Nodgecock, subs. (old).—A simpleton.
1566-7. Painter, Pal. Pleas., i. E and 5. This poore nodgecock contriving the time with sweete and pleasaunt woordes with his dareling Simphorosia.
