Vol. V.
A Dictionary of Slang and its Analogues.
NAB (or NAP), subs. (Old Cant).—I The head: also NAPPER. See TiBBY.—B. E. (c. 1696); Coles (1706); Bailey (1728); Grose (1785); Jamieson (1880).
1567. Harman, Caveat, (E. E. T. S.), 86. Now I tower that bene bouse makes nase nabes.
1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight [Grosart, Wks. (1886), iii., 203]. The Ruffin cly the nab of the Harman beck.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all p. 39 [Hunt. Club. Repr.]. s.v.
1611. Middleton and Dekker, Roaring Girl, v. I. So my bousy nab might skew rome bouse.
1622. Fletcher, Beggar's Bush, 'The Maunder's Initiation.' I crown thy nab with a gage of ben bouse.
1632. Dekker, English Villanies [Grosart, Wks. (1886), iii]. He carries a short staff . . . having in the nab or head of it a ferme.
1671. R. Head, English Rogue (1874), 1., V., 50, S.V.
1393. Emerson, Signor Lippo, xiv. A long-sleeve cadi on his napper, and a pair of turtles on his martins finished him.
2. (old).—A hat; a cap : also NAB-cheat and napper. See Golgotha.—B. E. (c. 1696); Coles (1708); Bailey (1728); Dyche (1748); Grose (1785); Matsell (1859).
1531-47. Copland, Hey-way to the Spyttel-hous [Hazlitt, Early Popular Poetry, iv.]. His watch shall feng a prounces nab-chete.
1567. Harman, Caveat [E. E. T. S. (1869), 85] I toure the strummel upon thy nabchet and Togman.
1622. Fletcher, Beggar's Bush, i., 1. We throw up our nab-cheat, first for joy, And then our filches.
1671. R. Head, English Rogue, i., v. 51 (1874), s.v.
1688. Shadwell, Sg. of Alsatia, ii. [Works (1720), iv., 47]. Belf. Sen. . . . Here's a nabb! you never saw such a one in your life. Cheat. A rum nabb: it is a beaver of £5.
1706. Farquhar, Recruiting Officer, ii., 3. Ise keep on my nab.
1754. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, ii., vi. Those who preferred the nab, or trencher-hat with the brim flapping over their eyes.
3. (old).—A fop: see Dandy.—Matsell (1859).
4. (American).—See quot., Beak, and Copper.
