also nighttime, "the hours of darkness," late 13c., from night + time (n.). In the same sense Middle English had also nighter-tale (c. 1300), probably based on Old Norse nattar-þel.ETD night-time (n.).2

night-watch (n.)

"guard kept during the night," late Old English; see night + watch (n.).ETD night-watch (n.).2

night-work (n.)

"work done during the night," 1590s, from night + work (n.). Old English had nihtweorc.ETD night-work (n.).2

nig-nog (n.)

"foolish person," 1953, OED suggests from earlier cant slang nigmenog "a very silly fellow" (1700). Compare Australian and dialectal ning-nong "fool" (1832). The word turns up in various apparently unrelated contexts in late 19c.-early 20c. Wright's "Dictionary of Obsolete and Provincial Words" (1886) has nig-nog as a verb for "to fuck." It also was the name of a fictitious patent medicine that "cures all nervous ailments," etc. in a humor story by Edgar Wallace originally published in 1923. As a term of abuse for a dark-skinned person (by 1959), a shortened and reduplicated form of nigger.ETD nig-nog (n.).2

nigra (n., adj.)

by 1944, American English, reflecting a white Southern U.S. pronunciation of Negro, but it was held to be a compromise made by those whites who had learned to not say nigger but could not bring themselves to say Negro, and it was thus deemed (in the words of a 1960 slang dictionary) "even more derog[atory] than 'nigger.' "ETD nigra (n., adj.).2

nihilism (n.)

1817, "the doctrine of negation" (in reference to religion or morals), from German Nihilismus, from Latin nihil "nothing at all" (see nil), coined by German philosopher Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi (1743-1819). In philosophy, an extreme form of skepticism (1836). The political sense, "rejection of fundamental social and political structures," was first used c. 1824 by German journalist Joseph von Görres (1776-1848). Turgenev used the Russian form of the word (nigilizm) in "Fathers and Children" (1862) and claimed to have invented it. With a capital N-, it refers to the Russian revolutionary anarchism of the period 1860-1917, supposedly so called because "nothing" that then existed found favor in their eyes.ETD nihilism (n.).2

nihility (n.)

"quality or state of being nothing," 1670s, from Medieval Latin nihilitas, from nihil "nothing at all" (see nil).ETD nihility (n.).2

nihil (n.)

Latin, literally "nothing" (see nil). Phrase nihil obstat "nothing stands in the way" printed on first pages of a Catholic work indicates its official approval.ETD nihil (n.).2

nihilist (n.)

1836 in the religious or philosophical sense, from French nihiliste, from Latin nihil (see nihilism). In the Russian political sense, it is recorded by 1863. Related: Nihilistic.ETD nihilist (n.).2

-nik

as in beatnik, etc., suffix used in word formation from c. 1945, from Yiddish -nik (as in nudnik "a bore"), from Russian -nik, common personal suffix meaning "person or thing associated with or involved in" (compare nudnik; kolkhoznik "member of a kolkhoz"). Rocketed to popularity with sputnik (q.v.), hence its brief vogue in English word-formation, as in robotnik "person behaving with mindless obedience" (1960).ETD -nik.2

Nike

Greek goddess of victory (identified by the Romans with their Victoria), literally "victory, upper hand" (in battle, in contests, in court), probably connected with neikos "quarrel, strife," neikein "to quarrel with," a word of uncertain etymology and perhaps a pre-Greek word. As the name of a type of U.S. defensive surface-to-air missiles, attested from 1952. The brand of athletic shoes and apparel, based near Portland, Oregon, has been so known since 1971, named for the Greek goddess, having been founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports.ETD Nike.2

nil (n.)

"nothing," 1833, from Latin nil, contraction of nihil, nihilum "nothing, not at all; in vain," from ne- "not" (from PIE root *ne- "not") + hilum "small thing, trifle," which is of unknown origin. The Latin phrase nil desperandum, used loosely for "never give up," is literally "nothing is to be despaired of," from the gerundive of desperare.ETD nil (n.).2

Nile

river in Africa, one of the world's oldest surviving place names, from a Semitic root nahal "river." Unnamed in Old Testament, it is always merely "the river" (Hebrew yeor).ETD Nile.2

nill (v.)

Old English nylle, nelle "to be unwilling," from ne "no" (from PIE root *ne- "not") + will (v.). Often paired with will; the once-common construction nill he, will he, attested from c. 1300, survives principally in willy-nilly, which, however, reverses the usual Middle English word order. Latin expressed a similar idea in nolens volens.ETD nill (v.).2

Nilo-

used as a combining form of Nile.ETD Nilo-.2

nim (v.)

"to take, take up in the hands in order to move, carry, or use; take unlawfully, steal" (archaic), Old English niman "to take, accept, receive, grasp, catch," from Proto-Germanic *nemanan (source also of Old Saxon niman, Old Frisian nima, Middle Dutch nemen, German nehmen, Gothic niman), perhaps from PIE root *nem- "assign, allot; take." The native word, replaced by Scandinavian-derived take (v.) and out of use from c. 1500 except in slang sense of "to steal," which endured into 19c. The derivatives numb and nimble remain in use.ETD nim (v.).2

NIMBY

acronym for not in my back yard, 1980, American English, supposedly coined by Walter Rodgers of the American Nuclear Society. Related" Nimbyism.ETD NIMBY.2

nimble (adj.)

"agile, light and quick in motion, light-footed," c. 1300, nemel, from Old English næmel "quick to grasp, quick at taking" (attested but once), related to niman "to take," from Proto-Germanic *nemanan (source also of Old Saxon, Old Dutch, Gothic niman, Old Norse nema, Old Frisian nima, German nehmen "to take"), perhaps from PIE root *nem- "assign, allot; take."ETD nimble (adj.).2

With unetymological -b- attested from c. 1500 (compare limb (n.1)). Nimble-fingered is from 1620s; nimble-footed from 1590s; nimble-witted from 1610s. Related: Nimbleness. In 17c., English had nimblechaps "talkative fellow."ETD nimble (adj.).3

nimbly (adv.)

"quickly; in an agile manner," c. 1400, nemeli, from nimble + -ly (adv.).ETD nimbly (adv.).2

nimbostratus (n.)

"thick, low, dark cloud from which rain or snow falls," 1932 (earlier use from late 19c. refers to different cloud types), from Modern Latin nimbus "cloud" (see nimbus) + connecting element -o- + stratus (see stratus). Nimbus as "a rain cloud" is attested from 1803.ETD nimbostratus (n.).2

nimbus (n.)

1610s, "bright cloud surrounding a divine or sacred personage," from Latin nimbus "cloud," which is perhaps related to nebula "cloud, mist" (from PIE root *nebh- "cloud"). In art, the meaning "halo around the head of a representation of a divine or sacred person" is by 1727. Figurative use is by 1860. Compare aureole.ETD nimbus (n.).2

nimiety (n.)

"excess, redundancy, state of being too much," 1560s, from Latin nimietas "excessiveness," from nimius "beyond measure, excessive," from nimis (adv.) "too much, beyond measure, excessively," from *ne-mis- "not little," from PIE root *ne- "not" + *mi- "little," from PIE root *mei- (2) "small."ETD nimiety (n.).2

Nimrod

"great hunter," 1712, a reference to the biblical son of Cush, referred to (Genesis x.8-9) as "a mighty hunter before the Lord." In Middle English he was Nembrot (mid-13c.), founder of cities and builder of the tower of Babel (though Genesis does not name him as such). In 16c.-17c. his name was synonymous with "a tyrant." The word came to mean "geek, klutz" by 1983 in teenager slang, for unknown reasons. (Amateur theories include its occasional use in "Bugs Bunny" cartoon episodes featuring rabbit-hunting Elmer Fudd as a foil; its alleged ironic use, among hunters, for a clumsy member of their fraternity; or a stereotype of deer hunters by the non-hunting population in the U.S.)ETD Nimrod.2

Nimzo-Indian (adj.)

type of defensive opening in chess, 1935, in reference to Aron Nimzowitsch (1886-1935), Latvian-born Jewish chess genius who popularized a variation of the Indian defense (1884) attributed to Indian chess player Moheschunder Bannerjee.ETD Nimzo-Indian (adj.).2

Nina

fem. proper name; in a Russian context it is a shortening of Annina, diminutive of Greek Anna. In a Spanish context, Niña "child, infant," a nursery word.ETD Nina.2

nincompoop (n.)

1670s, nicompoop, also ninkompoop; the modern form is attested by 1680s. Another frequent spelling through 18c. was nickum-poop. Defined in the 1699 Dictionary of the Canting Crew as "a Fool, also a silly soft, Uxorious Fellow."ETD nincompoop (n.).2

Despite the similarity [noted by Johnson] to the Latin legal phrase non compos mentis "insane, mentally incompetent" (c. 1600), the connection is denied by the OED's etymologists because the earliest forms lack the second -n-. Weekley thinks first element may be a proper name, and cites Nicodemus, which he says was used in French for "a fool," or Nicholas. 17c. slang also offers Nickum as a term for a cheat, said by the Dictionaries of the Scots Language to be a diminutive of Nick in the sense of the devil. Klein says it is probably an invented word. Century Dictionary has no objection to the non compos mentis theory.ETD nincompoop (n.).3

nine (num.)

"the cardinal number one more than eight or one less than ten; the number which is one more than eight;" Middle English nīn, from Old English nigen, from Proto-Germanic *newun (source also of Old Saxon nigun, Old Frisian niugun, Old Norse niu, Swedish nio, Middle Dutch neghen, Dutch negen, Old High German niun, German neun, Gothic niun "nine").ETD nine (num.).2

This is from PIE root *newn "nine" (source also of Sanskrit nava, Avestan nava, Greek ennea (with unetymological initial e-), Albanian nende, Latin novem (with change of -n- to -m- by analogy of septem, decem), Lithuanian devyni, Old Church Slavonic deveti (the Balto-Slavic forms by dissimilation of -n- to -d-), Old Irish noin, Welsh naw).ETD nine (num.).3

As "a symbol representing the number nine," late 14c. The proverbial nine lives of a cat are attested from 17c. Nine-to-five "the average workday" is attested from 1935. Nine days (or nights) has been proverbial since mid-14c. for the time which a wonder or novelty holds attention; the expression nine days' wonder is from 1590s. The Nine "the Muses" is from c. 1600. Also see nines.ETD nine (num.).4

nines (n.)

in phrase to the nines "to perfection, fully, elaborately" (1787) first attested in Burns, apparently preserves the ancient notion of the perfection of the number as three times three (such as the nine Muses, the Nine Worthies, ancient personages famous for bravery, and the nine orders of angels).ETD nines (n.).2

No one seems to consider that it might be a corruption and misdivision of to then anes, literally "for the one (purpose or occasion)," a similar construction to that which yielded nonce (q.v.). Century Dictionary suspects it is a corruption of Middle English to then eyne "to the eyes."ETD nines (n.).3

ninefold (adj., adv.)

"nine times repeated, nine times as great or numerous; consisting of nine parts," 1550s; see nine + -fold. Possibly a 16c. formation; the word is not attested in Middle English, but late Old English had nigonfeald.ETD ninefold (adj., adv.).2

ninepence (n.)

"the sum of nine pennies," 1540s, from nine + pence. No coin of this value was ever issued in England, but the silver shilling issued by Queen Elizabeth for Ireland in 1561 were current in England for nine pence, and in New England it was the name of a Spanish silver coin worth about 9 pence of New England currency.ETD ninepence (n.).2

ninepins (n.)

"the game of bowls, played in an alley," 1570s, from nine + plural of pin (n.). From the number of pins to be knocked down. The game also was known as nine-pegs (1670s). Nine-holes (1570s) was a once-popular game in which players roll small balls at 9 holes made in a board or on the ground.ETD ninepins (n.).2

nineteen (adj., n.)

"1 more than eighteen, nine more than ten; the cardinal number composed of 10 and 9; a symbol representing this number;" Middle English nīntene, from late Old English nigontene (Anglian), nigontyne (West Saxon); see nine + -teen. Cognate with Old Saxon nigentein, Old Frisian niogentena, Dutch negentien, Old High German niunzehan, German neunzehn, Old Norse nitjan, Danish nitten.ETD nineteen (adj., n.).2

nineteenth (adj., n.)

"next in order or rank after the eighteenth; the ordinal numeral corresponding to nineteen; being one of nineteen equal parts into which a whole is regarded as divided;" late 14c., nyntenthe; from nineteen + -th (1).ETD nineteenth (adj., n.).2

It is a replacement or modification (by influence of nineteen) of nigonteoþa, nyenteoþe (c. 1300), from Old English nigon-teoða, which is cognate with Old Frisian niuguntinda, Dutch negentiende, Old High German niuntazehanto, German neunzehnte, Old Norse nitjandi, Danish nittende. Nineteenth hole "bar-room in a golf clubhouse" is attested from 1901.ETD nineteenth (adj., n.).3

ninety (adj., n.)

"9 times ten; the number which is one more than eighty-nine or 10 less than one hundred; a symbol representing this number;" Middle English nīntī (late 13c.), from Old English nigontig, from nine + -tig "group of ten" (see -ty (1)). Cognate with Old Frisian niontich, Middle Dutch negentich, Dutch negentig, German neunzig, Old Norse nintigir.ETD ninety (adj., n.).2

nineties (n.)

1857 as the years of someone's life between 90 and 99; from 1848 as the tenth decade of years in a given century; 1849 with reference to Fahrenheit temperature. See ninety.ETD nineties (n.).2

Related: Ninetyish "characteristic of the (eighteen-) nineties" (1909). In Britain, the naughty nineties was a popular name 1920s-30s for the 1890s, based on the notion of a relaxing of morality and mood in contrast to earlier Victorian times. In U.S., gay nineties in reference to the same decade is attested from 1927, and was the title of a regular nostalgia feature in "Life" magazine about that time.ETD nineties (n.).3

ninetieth (adj., n.)

"next in order or rank after the eighty-ninth; an ordinal numeral corresponding to ninety; being one of ninety equal parts into which a whole is regarded as divided;" late 14c., nyntithe, from ninety + -th (1); a replacement or modification of Old English nigenteoþan.ETD ninetieth (adj., n.).2

Nineveh

ancient capital city of Assyria, near Mosul in modern Iraq, from Akkadian (Semitic) Ni-nu-a, which is of uncertain origin but perhaps contains the name of a patron goddess. Related: Ninevite.ETD Nineveh.2

ninny (n.)

"simpleton, fool," 1590s, perhaps a misdivision of an innocent (see N for other examples), or from the pet form of the proper name Innocent, with sense influenced by the name's literal meaning. There may be some influence in the word of Italian ninno "baby, child" (cognate with Spanish niño). Related: Niniversity "school for idiots" (1580s).ETD ninny (n.).2

ninnyhammer (n.)

also ninny-hammer, "simpleton," 1590s, from ninny + hammer (n.), but the signification of the second element is obscure.ETD ninnyhammer (n.).2

ninth (adj., n.)

"next in order or rank after the eighth; being one of nine equal parts into which a whole is regarded as divided;" c. 1300, nynþe, an alteration or replacement (by influence of nine) of nigonðe, from Old English nigoða, nigende, for which compare seventh. Also see -th (1). As a noun, "ordinal numeral corresponding to nine," late 13c. As the name of a musical interval, 1590s. Related: Ninthly.ETD ninth (adj., n.).2

Niobe

in Greek mythology, a queen of Thebes, daughter of Tantalus, married to Amphion, she was changed to a stone while weeping for her numerous children (slain, after she boasted of them overmuch, by Artemis and Apollo); hence the name is used figuratively for bereavement and woe. The name is said to mean literally "snowy; snowy-bright." By scientists the name was given to a type of trilobites and an asteroid. Related: Niobean.ETD Niobe.2

niobium (n.)

metallic element, 1845, named by German scientist Heinrich Rose, who discovered it in 1844 in the mineral tantalite (the source of the element and name tantalum) and columbite. The element was so called because in Greek mythology Niobe was the daughter of Tantalus. With metallic element ending -ium. Related: Niobic.ETD niobium (n.).2

nip (n.1)

"small measure of strong spirits," 1796, slang shortening of nipperkin (1670s) "quantity of beer or liquor of a half pint or less," possibly of Dutch or Low German origin (compare German Nipp "sip, taste") and related to nip (v.). Reinforced by nip (n.2) in its secondary sense of "fragment or bit pinched off" (c. 1600).ETD nip (n.1).2

nip (v.)

late 14c., nippen, "to pinch sharply; to bite suddenly," probably from or related to Middle Low German nipen "to nip, to pinch," German nippen, Middle Dutch nipen "to pinch," Dutch nijpen, Old Norse hnippa "to prod," but the exact evolution of the stem is obscure. Related: Nipped; nipping.ETD nip (v.).2

Meaning "break off the tip by pinching" is from c. 1400. Sense of "blast as by frost, check the growth or vigor of" is from 1580s. To nip (something) in the bud in the figurative sense of "kill or destroy in the first stage of growth" is recorded from c. 1600. Slang nip in, nip out, etc., in which the sense of the verb is "move rapidly or nimbly" is attested from 1825.ETD nip (v.).3

nip (n.2)

"a pinch; a sharp bite," 1540s, from nip (v.). Sense of "a small bit of anything, fragment or bit pinched off" is from c. 1600. Meaning "a chill in the weather" is from 1610s, probably so called for its effect on vegetation. Nip and tuck "a close thing," especially a close approach to equality in the results of a horse race or any competition, is recorded by 1847, American English, perhaps an image from sailing or tailoring.ETD nip (n.2).2

nipper (n.)

"small boy," 1859, originally specifically one who does errands and chores for a gang of workmen (1851), perhaps from the canting sense "pickpocket, one who 'pinches' other people's property" (1530s; see nip (v.)). Nippers "pincer-like tool with cutting jaws," used by metal-workers, wire-drawers, etc., is from 1540s.ETD nipper (n.).2

nippy (adj.)

"biting, sharp," 1898, colloquial, in reference to a "biting" chill in the air, from nip (n.2) + -y (2). Related: Nippiness.ETD nippy (adj.).2

nipple (n.)

1530s, nyppell, "protuberance of a mammalian breast," in a female the extremity where the milk-ducts discharge, alteration of neble (1520s), probably diminutive of neb "bill, beak, snout" (see neb), hence, literally "a small projection." Used from 1713 of any thing or mechanical part that projects like a nipple. From 1875 in reference to the mouthpiece of an infant's nursing-bottle. Earlier words were pap (n.2), teat. A 16c.-17c. slang term for a woman's nipples was cherrilets.ETD nipple (n.).2

Nipponese (n.)

"Japanese," 1844, from Nippon, Japanese word for "Japan," literally "rising-sun place," from ni(chi) "the sun" + pon, hon "source," said to be from Chinese. As an adjective by 1859. Derisive slang shortening Nip attested from 1942, a U.S. World War II coinage.ETD Nipponese (n.).2

nirvana (n.)

also Nirvana, Nirwana, 1836, in Buddhism, "the condition of a Buddha," from Sanskrit nirvana-s "extinction, disappearance" (of the individual soul into the universal), literally "to blow out, a blowing out" ("not transitively, but as a fire ceases to draw" [Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy, "Hinduism and Buddhism," 1943]; a literal Latinization would be de-spiration), from nis-, nir- "out" + va- "to blow" (from PIE root *we- "to blow"). Figurative sense of "perfect bliss" is from 1895.ETD nirvana (n.).2

nisei (n.)

"American born of Japanese parents," from Japanese ni- "second" + sei "generation." Use of the word was limited to U.S. West Coast until c. 1942.ETD nisei (n.).2

nisi (conj.)

Latin, "unless," occurring in legal and administrative phrases used in English, from ni "not " + si "if."ETD nisi (conj.).2

nit (n.)

"louse egg," Middle English nite, from Old English hnitu, from Proto-Germanic *hnitu- (source also of Norwegian nit, Middle Dutch nete, Dutch neet, Middle High German niz, German Niß), from PIE root *knid- "egg of a louse" (source also of Russian, Polish gnida, Czech knida; Greek konis, genitive konidos "egg of a louse").ETD nit (n.).2

nite (n.)

arbitrary respelling of night, attested by 1920. OED calls it "A widespread vulgarism." It appears earlier in humorous representations of semi-literate spelling.ETD nite (n.).2

niter

see nitre.ETD niter.2

nitpick (v.)

also nit-pick, "seek petty faults," 1962, a back-formation from earlier nitpicker. Related: Nitpicking (1956); nitpicky.ETD nitpick (v.).2

nitpicker (n.)

also nit-picker, "pedantic critic," by 1951, perhaps 1946, a figurative use, said to be originally military jargon; see nit (n.) + pick (v.).ETD nitpicker (n.).2

nitre (n.)

c. 1400, "native sodium carbonate" (a sense now obsolete), from Old French nitre (13c.), from Latin nitrum, from Greek nitron, which is possibly of Eastern origin (compare Hebrew nether "carbonate of soda;" Egyptian ntr). Originally a word for native soda, but also associated since the Middle Ages with saltpeter (potassium nitrate) for obscure reasons; this became the predominant sense by late 16c.ETD nitre (n.).2

nitrate (n.)

"a salt formed of nitric acid and a base," 1794, from French nitrate (1787) or Modern Latin nitratum, or formed in English from nitre + -ate (3). Related: Nitrates.ETD nitrate (n.).2

nitric (adj.)

"of, pertaining to, or derived from nitre," 1794, originally in reference to acid obtained initially from distillation of saltpeter; see nitre + -ic. Perhaps immediately from French nitrique. The acid was known as aqua fortis, later acid spirit of nitre, then nitric acid (1787) under the system ordered by Lavoisier.ETD nitric (adj.).2

nitrification (n.)

"process by which nitrogen in soil is oxidized to nitric acid," 1789, from French nitrification (1778), from nitrifier (1777), from nitre (see nitre). English nitrify "convert into nitre" is attested by 1800.ETD nitrification (n.).2

nitro-

before vowels nitr-, word-forming element used scientifically and indicating nitrogen, nitrate, or nitric acid; from Greek nitron (see nitre).ETD nitro-.2

nitro (n.)

abbreviation of nitroglycerine, 1935, slang.ETD nitro (n.).2

nitrogen (n.)

colorless, odorless gaseous element, 1794, from French nitrogène, coined 1790 by French chemist Jean Antoine Chaptal (1756-1832), from Greek nitron "sodium carbonate" (see nitro-) + French gène "producing," from Greek -gen "giving birth to" (see -gen). The gas was identified in part by analysis of nitre. An earlier name for it was mephitic air (1772), and Lavoisier called it azote (see azo-). It forms about 78% of the weight of the Earth's atmosphere. Related: Nitrogenic; nitrogenous.ETD nitrogen (n.).2

nitroglycerine (n.)

also nitroglycerin, violently explosive oily light-yellow liquid, 1857, from nitro- + glycerin. So called either because it was obtained by treating glycerine with nitric and sulfuric acids or because it is essentially a nitrate (glyceryl trinitrate). The essential element of dynamite; it is a violent poison when ingested, but in minute doses it is used in the treatment of angina and heart failure.ETD nitroglycerine (n.).2

nitrous (adj.)

c. 1600, "of nitre, pertaining to nitre," from Latin nitrosus, from nitrum (see nitre). The more precise use in chemistry (designating a compound in which the nitrogen has a lower valence than the corresponding nitric compound) is from 1780s. Middle English had nitrose "nitrous in quality; bitter, sour" (early 15c.). Nitrous oxide "laughing gas" is attested from 1800.ETD nitrous (adj.).2

nitty (adj.)

"full of nits," 1560s, from nit + -y (2).ETD nitty (adj.).2

nitty-gritty (n.)

"basic facts of a situation or problem," by 1961, knitty-gritty, American English, said to have been chiefly used by black jazz musicians, perhaps ultimately from nit and grits "finely ground corn." As an adjective from 1966.ETD nitty-gritty (n.).2

nitwit (n.)

also nit-wit, "stupid person," by 1914, American English slang, probably from nit "nothing," from dialectal German or Yiddish, from Middle Low German (see nix (n.)) + wit (n.). Related: Nitwitted; nitwittery.ETD nitwit (n.).2

niveous (adj.)

"resembling snow," 1620s, from Latin niveus "snowy," from stem of nix "snow," from PIE root *sneigwh- "snow, to snow" (see snow (n.)).ETD niveous (adj.).2

nix (n., interj.)

as an answer, "nothing, none," 1789, from German nix, dialectal variant of nichts "nothing," from Middle High German nihtes, from genitive of niht, nit "nothing," from Old High German niwiht, from ni, ne "no" (from PIE root *ne- "not") + wiht "thing, creature" (compare naught). By extension, as an adverb, "no."ETD nix (n., interj.).2

nix (v.)

"cancel, refuse, forbid," 1903, from nix (n.). Related: Nixed; nixing.ETD nix (v.).2

nixie (n.)

"water fairy, water sprite," 1816 (introduced by Sir Walter Scott), from German Nixie, from Old High German nihhussa "water sprite," fem. of nihhus, from Proto-Germanic *nikwiz (source also of Old Norse nykr, Old English nicor "water spirit, water monster," also used to gloss hippopotamus), perhaps from PIE *neigw- "to wash" (source also of Sanskrit nenkti "washes," Greek nizo "I wash," Old Irish nigid "washes").ETD nixie (n.).2

Nixon

surname, a spelling variant of Nickson, literally "son of (a man named) Nick, English familiar form of Nicholas. Nixonian is from 1959 in reference to the ways and means of U.S. vice president (later president) Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994). Related: Nixonite; Nixonomics.ETD Nixon.2

no (adv.)

"not in any degree, not at all," Middle English, from Old English na, from ne "not, no" + a "ever." The first element is from Proto-Germanic *ne (source also of Old Norse, Old Frisian, Old High German ne, Gothic ni "not"), from PIE root *ne- "not." Second element is from Proto-Germanic *aiwi-, extended form of PIE root *aiw- "vital force, life, long life, eternity." Ultimately identical to nay, and the differences of use are accidental.ETD no (adv.).2

As an adjective, "not any, not one, none" (c. 1200) it is reduced from Old English nan (see none), the final -n omitted first before consonants and then altogether. As an interjection making a negative reply to a statement or question, "not so," early 13c., from the adverb. As a noun, 1580s as "a denial; a negative vote," 1650s as "person who casts a negative vote."ETD no (adv.).3

Construction no X, no Y is attested from 1530s (in no peny no pardon). No problem as an interjection of assurance is attested by 1963. No way as a colloquial expression meaning "it can't be done" is attested by 1968 (noway (adv.) "not at all, in no respect, by no means" is from c. 1300). No-knock (adj.) in reference to police raids without permission or warning is by 1970, American English. Phrase no can do "it is not possible" is attested from 1827, a locution of English-speaking Chinese noted 19c. in China, Australia, and the West Coast of the United States.ETD no (adv.).4

No.

as an abbreviation meaning (and pronounced) "number," 1660s, from Latin numero, ablative singular of numerus (see number (n.)).ETD No..2

no-account (adj.)

"worthless," 1845, American English, literally "of no account" (see account (n.)). The phrase of non acompte "of no value or importance" is from late 14c. Contracted form no'count is attested from 1853.ETD no-account (adj.).2

Noah

masc. proper name, biblical patriarch, from Hebrew Noach, literally "rest." Phrase Noah's ark in reference to the ark in which, according to Genesis, Noah saved his family and many animals, is attested from 1610s. As a child's toy representing Noah's ark, by 1841.ETD Noah.2

The adjective Noachian, in reference to the flood legend, is from 1670s, reflecting the Hebrew pronunciation. Noachical is from 1660s; Noachic from 1773.ETD Noah.3

nob (n.1)

"the head," c. 1700, a slang or humorous variant of knob (q.v.).ETD nob (n.1).2

nob (n.2)

"a member of the aristocracy, person of wealth and distinction," 1755, a slang shortening of nobleman or some similar word. Related: Nobby; nobbily.ETD nob (n.2).2

nobbut

"only, no one but," 14c., a colloquial or dialectal fusion of not but or none but.ETD nobbut.2

Nobel

1900, in reference to five prizes (in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace) established in the will of Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), Swedish chemist and engineer, inventor of dynamite. A sixth prize, in economics, was added in 1969. Related: Nobelist.ETD Nobel.2

nobelium (n.)

transuranic element, 1957, named for Alfred Nobel (q.v.). With metallic element ending -ium.ETD nobelium (n.).2

nobis

"with us, for our part," Latin dative of nos "we" (from PIE *nos; see us).ETD nobis.2

nobility (n.)

mid-14c., nobilite, "honor, renown; majesty, grandeur;" late 14c., "quality of being excellent or rare," from Old French nobilite "high rank; dignity, grace; great deed" (12c., Modern French nobilité), and directly from Latin nobilitatem (nominative nobilitas) "celebrity, fame; high birth; excellence, superiority; the nobles," from nobilis "well-known, prominent" (see noble (adj.)).ETD nobility (n.).2

Meaning "quality of being of noble rank or birth; social or political preeminence, usually accompanied by hereditary privilege" is attested from late 14c.; sense of "the noble class collectively" is from late 14c. Sense of "dignity of mind, elevation of the soul, loftiness of tone" is from 1590s.ETD nobility (n.).3

noble (adj.)

c. 1200, "illustrious, distinguished, of high rank or birth," from Old French noble "of noble bearing or birth," from Latin nobilis "well-known, famous, renowned; excellent, superior, splendid; high-born, of superior birth," earlier *gnobilis, literally "knowable," from gnoscere "to come to know" (from PIE root *gno- "to know"). The prominent Roman families, which were "well known," provided most of the Republic's public officials.ETD noble (adj.).2

Sense of "distinguished by splendor, magnificence, or stateliness" is from late 13c. Meaning "worthy of honor or respect " is from mid-14c. Sense of "having lofty character, having high moral qualities" is from c. 1600. Noble savage is "primitive man conceived of as morally superior to civilized man;" the phrase itself is from Dryden; the idea developed in the 18c.ETD noble (adj.).3

A noble gas (1902) is so called for its inactivity or inertness; a use of the word that had been applied in Middle English to precious stones, metals, etc., that did not alter or oxidize when exposed to air (late 14c.), with noble in the sense of "having admirable properties" (c. 1300).ETD noble (adj.).4

noble (n.)

"man of rank, person of acknowledged social or political preeminence; person of rank above a commoner," c. 1300, from noble (adj.). The same noun sense also is in Old French and Latin. From mid-14c. as the name of an English coin first issued in reign of Edward III.ETD noble (n.).2

nobleness (n.)

"state or quality of being noble," c. 1400; see noble (adj.) + -ness.ETD nobleness (n.).2

nobleman (n.)

"man of noble birth, one of the nobility, a peer," c. 1300, from noble (adj.) + man (n.). Noblewoman is from late 15c.ETD nobleman (n.).2

noblesse (n.)

c. 1200, "noble birth, high rank or condition," from Old French noblece "noble birth, splendor, magnificence" (Modern French noblesse), from Vulgar Latin *nobilitia, from Latin nobilis (see noble (adj.)). For the Old French suffix -esse, is from Latin -itia, added to adjectives to form nouns of quality, compare fortress.ETD noblesse (n.).2

Post-Middle English uses are perhaps reborrowings from French. The meaning "persons of noble rank" is from 1590s. The French phrase noblesse oblige "privilege entails responsibility, noble birth or rank compels noble acts" (literally "nobility obliges") is attested in English by 1837.ETD noblesse (n.).3

nobly (adv.)

c. 1300, nobleli, "valorously, courageously, with spirit," also "splendidly, magnificently; skillfully, cleverly," from noble (adj.) + -ly (2). Meaning "of or befitting noble birth or descent, of high ancestry" is from mid-15c.ETD nobly (adv.).2

Nobodaddy (n.)

c. 1793, William Blake's derisive name for the anthropomorphic God of Christianity. The name reflects nobody + daddy.ETD Nobodaddy (n.).2

nobody (n.)

c. 1300, no bodi "no person no one," from Middle English no (adj.) "not any" + bodi (see body (n.)). Written as two words 14c.-18c.; hyphenated 17c.-18c. Incorrect use with their is attested from 1540s. Meaning "person of no importance, one who is not fashionable in society" is from 1580s.ETD nobody (n.).2

nociceptive (adj.)

of pain, "caused by potentially harmful stimuli," 1904, from Latin noci-, combining form of nocere "to do harm" (from PIE root *nek- (1) "death") + second element from receptive.ETD nociceptive (adj.).2

nock (n.)

"a notch," specifically, in archery, "the notch on the horn of a bow," where the string is fastened, also "notch on the end of an arrow," which rests on the string, late 14c., nokke, a word of uncertain origin, probably from a Scandinavian source (such as Swedish nock "notch"), or a continental Germanic one such as Low German nokk, Middle Dutch nocke, Dutch nok "tip of a sail" or other similar words denoting projections or tips. Perhaps connected to nook.ETD nock (n.).2

nock (v.)

mid-14c., "make a notch in;" 1510s, "fit (the nock of an arrow) to a bowstring;" from nock (n.). Related: Nocked; nocking.ETD nock (v.).2

noct-

also nocti-, word-forming element meaning "night, by night, at night," from Latin nox (genitive noctis) "night," from PIE *nekwt- "night" (see night).ETD noct-.2

noctambulation (n.)

"sleep-walking," 1721; see noct- "night" + ambulation "act of walking about." Related: Noctambulist; noctambulism; noctambulant.ETD noctambulation (n.).2

noctidial (adj.)

"comprising a night and a day," 1690s, from Latin noct-, stem of nox "night" (see noct-) + dies "day" (see diurnal).ETD noctidial (adj.).2

noctilucent (adj.)

"shining by night," as the eyes of a cat, glow-worms, decaying wood, or certain high clouds seen in northern latitudes, 1812, from Latin noct-, stem of nox "night" (see noct-) + lucentem (nominative lucens), present participle of lucere "to shine, glow, be bright," from PIE root *leuk- "light, brightness." The word was originally used of tiny sea creatures, by contemporary observers reported to be nereids, but that identification is now considered doubtful.ETD noctilucent (adj.).2

Also noctilucous (1774). Noctilucid is rarely used, but could be valuable if it meant "only making sense at night." Related: Noctilucence.ETD noctilucent (adj.).3

noctivagant (adj.)

"rambling or wandering in the night," 1620s, from Latin noct-, stem of nox "night" (see noct-) + vagantem (nominative vagans), present participle of vagari "to wander, stroll about, roam, be unsettled, spread abroad," from vagus "roving, wandering" (see vague). Related: Noctivagation; noctivagous.ETD noctivagant (adj.).2

New Orleans — nightstick (n.)

noctuary (n.) — non-fiction (adj.)