• N.B.G.
adj. 1903 sl. – of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory (No Bloody Good)
• N.B.L.
phr. 20C Brit. colloq. – not bloody likely
• N.C.
phr. Bk1902 sl. – enough said (Nuf Ced)
• NE
n. 1387 obs. rare – a nephew
vb. c1400 obs. rare – to deny
• NEAL
adj. 1574 obs. – of water: deep
vb. 1673 obs. – to burn
• NEAP
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – new
n. 1906 Amer. dial. – a piece of old blanket folded around the feet inside the shoe packs for warmth; hence, a sock
• NEAPED
adj. Bk1905 Sc. – pointed; terminating in a peak
• NEAPENS
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – both hands full
• NEAPOLITAN
n. 1631 obs. rare – a form of syphilis
• NEAPOLITAN CONSOLATION
n. a1704 euphemism obs. – a form of syphilis
• NEAPOLITAN DISEASE
n. 1656 obs. – a form of syphilis
• NEAPOLITAN FAVOUR
n. 1592 euphemism obs. – a form of syphilis
• NEAPOLITAN SCAB
n. 1671 obs. – a form of syphilis
• NEAR
adj. 1. c1470 obs. – closely related to; intimate with
adj. 2. 1603 colloq. – formerly careful
adj. 3. 1616 – niggardly, miserly, stingy, parsimonious, frugal, mean, greedy, covetous
adj. 4. 1823 colloq. – on the left side
adj. 5. 1884 Sc. – narrow
adj. 6. Bk1905 Eng. dial. obs. – empty
adj. 7. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – of food: underdone in cooking
adv. a1625 – thriftily; parsimoniously, meanly
n. 1788 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a kidney; the fat surrounding the kidneys
• NEAR-ABOUT
adv. 1871 Sc. & Eng. dial. – nearly, almost
prep. 1871 Sc. – near, close to
• NEAR AND FAR
n. 1909 Amer. rhyming sl. – a bar
• NEAR AS DAMMIT
adj. 1908 colloq. – very close or near indeed
• NEAR AS PEAS
adj. 1909 Amer. dial. – very near
• NEAR-AWAYS
adv. 1884 N. Ireland – nearly, almost
• NEAR BEER
n. 20C US Prohibition usage – beer with low alcohol content; beer with less than .5 percent alcohol content
• NEAR-BEGAUN
adj. 1789 Sc. – niggardly, miserly
• NEAR-BE-GAWN; NEAR-BE-GOING
adj. a1774 Sc. – niggardly
• NEAR-BEGONE
adj. Bk1905 N. Ireland – niggardly, miserly
• NEAR-BEHADDIN
adj. Bk1905 Sc. – niggardly, miserly
• NEAR-BLUDIT
adj. Bk1905 Sc. – closely related
• NEAR BY
adv. 1815 Sc. – nearly, almost
n. 1938 Amer. dial., chiefly African-American – (as ‘near-by’) a neighbour
• NEAR CHANCE
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a close shave
• NEAR-COLOURED
adj. 1606 obs. – of much the same colour
• NEAR CUT
n. 1880 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a short cut; a shorter method than the one usually employed
• NEARDER
adv. 1867 Eng. dial. – nearer
• NEARDEREST
adv. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – nearest
• NEARDERMOST
adv. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – nearest; only used when personal contact is implied
• NEARDEST
adv. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – nearest
• NEAR-DWELLER
n. 1896 Eng. dial. – a comparative stranger dwelling in one’s vicinity
• NEARDY
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a person in authority, a master, a parent, a foreman
• NEAR ENOUGH
n. 1930s sl. – a homosexual male prostitute
• NEARER-HAND
adv. 1893 Sc. & Eng. dial. – nearer, closer
• NEAR-FISTED
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – niggardly, miserly
• NEAR FRIEND
adj. Bk1905 Sc. – closely related or connected
n. Bk1905 Sc. – a first cousin
• NEAR GAN
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a close shave
• NEAR-GAWN
adj. 1773 Sc. – niggardly, miserly
• NEAR-GO
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a niggard
• NEAR-GOING
adj. 1773 Sc. – niggardly, miserly
• NEAR-HAND
adj. 1. 1835 Sc. & Eng. dial. – near, neighbouring, close at hand
adj. 2. Bk1905 Sc. – niggardly
adv. 1. a1300 obs. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial. – close at hand, close by
adv. 2. a1300 obs. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial. – nearly, almost
adv. 3. a1548 obs. rare – at close quarters, closely
adv. 4. 1809 Eng. dial. – probably; certainly
prep. a1300 obs. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial. – near to, close to
• NEAR-HAND BY
adv. 1789 Sc. & Eng. dial. – near, hard by
• NEAR-HAND GATE
n. 1827 Eng. dial. – the nearest way
• NEAR-HANDNESS
n. 1. Bk1905 Sc. – nearness; a short distance
n. 2. Bk1905 Sc. – niggardliness
• NEAR-HAND ROAD
n. 1816 Eng. dial. – a short cut
• NEAR HANDS
adv. c1460 obs. rare – almost
• NEAR-ISLE
n. 1625 obs. – a peninsula
• NEARLINGS
adv. 1790 Sc. & Eng. dial. – nearly, almost
• NEARLY
adv. 1. 1540 rare – with close inspection or scrutiny; carefully
adv. 2. 1561 – with close kinship, relationship, or connection; in close intimacy
adv. 3. 1592 rare – parsimoniously, frugally
• NEARMOST
adj. 1570 Eng. dial. – nearest
adv. 1. 1884 N. Ireland – almost
adv. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – nearest, next
• NEARNESS
n. 1. 1444 – close kinship or relationship
n. 2. 1584 – parsimony, niggardliness; frugality
n. 3. 1679 obs. rare – importance, consequence
• NEARP
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to pinch with cold
• NEAR-POINTS
adv. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – extremely near
• NEAR-RUN THING
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a close shave; a narrow escape
• NEAR-SIGHTED
adj. c1820 Amer. dial. – stingy, frugal, parsimonious
• NEARSOME
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – closely related
• NEAR SQUEAK
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a narrow escape
• NEARST
adv. 1896 Eng. dial. – almost; nearly
• NEAR THE BONE
adj. 1. 1873 – destitute
adj. 2. Bk1905 Sc. – niggardly, sparing
adj. 3. 1941 sl. – embarrassingly frank
• NEAR THE KNUCKLE
adj. 1909 sl. – embarrassingly frank
• NEARTHEST
adv. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – nearest
• NEAR THE WATER
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – easily moved to tears, emotional
• NEAR THE WAY
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – niggardly, sparing
• NEAR WAY
n. 1836 Amer. dial. – a shortcut
• NEAR-WIGGLE
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – an earwig
• NEASETHRILL
n. c1250 obs. – a nostril
• NEAT
adj. 1. 1542 obs. – clean, free from dirt or impurities
adj. 2. 1546 obs. – of persons: inclined to refinement or elegance; finely or elegantly dressed; trim or smart in apparel
adj. 3. 1559 obs. – of women: trim, smart
adj. 4. 1591 obs. – clear, bright
adj. 5. 1596 colloq. – of drinks: unmixed with water
adj. 6. 1611 – of preparations, esp. in cookery: dainty, tasteful
adj. 7. 1615 obs. rare – free from disease
adj. 8. 1634 obs. rare – of dress: elegant, trim
adj. 9. 1682 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – exact, precise
adj. 10. 1686 obs. rare – of a language: pure
adj. 11. 1715 obs. rare – unbroken, complete
adj. 12. 1798 Sc. obs. – pleasing to the eye, pretty
adj. 13. 1899 Ireland – first-rate, excellent
adj. 14. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – complete, thorough
adj. 15. 1934 sl., chiefly US – delightful, pleasing
adv. 1892 Sc. & Eng. dial. – exactly
n. 1. c825 rare – an animal of the ox kind; an ox or bullock, a cow or heifer, horned or black cattle
n. 2. c825 – cattle, collectively
vb. 1. 1574 obs. – to clean
vb. 2. 1581 rare – to make neat
• NEAT ARTICLE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NEAT AS A BANDBOX
adj. Bk1902 colloq. – orderly, tidy, neat
• NEAT AS A FLEA
adj. 1940s Aust. sl. – small and neat
• NEAT AS A GUT
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – orderly, tidy, neat
• NEAT AS A NEW PIN
adj. 1. 1893 sl. – first-class
adj. 2. Bk1902 colloq. – orderly, tidy, neat
• NEAT AS A PIN
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – orderly, tidy, neat
• NEAT AS A WHISTLE
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – orderly, tidy, neat
• NEAT AS IMPORTED
adj. Bk1902 colloq, – of drinks: unmixed with water
• NEAT AS NINEPENCE
adj. 1884 colloq. – as neat as may be
• NEAT AS WAX
adj. Bk1902 colloq. – as neat as may be
• NEAT BABY
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NEAT, BUT NOT GAUDY, AS THE DEVIL SAID WHEN HE PAINTED HIS BOTTOM RED AND TIED UP HIS TAIL WITH SKY-BLUE RIBBON
phr. 1887 sl. – spick and span; ‘fresh as a daisy’
• NEAT DISH
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NEATERY
n. 1647 obs. – a place for cattle
• NEAT-HANDED
adj. 1632 – having a deft manner of handling things; dexterous
• NEATHERD
n. 1382 – one who has the care of neat cattle; a herdsman
• NEATHERDESS
n. 1648 – a female who has the care of neat cattle
• NEATHIE-SET
n. E20 Brit. sl. – female underwear
• NEATHMOST
adj. 1790 Sc. – lowest, undermost
• NEAT-HOUSE
n. c1440 – a house or shed in which cattle are kept
• NEATIFY
vb. 1601 rare or obs. – to make neat; to purify
• NEATISH
adj. c1200 obs. rare – resembling cattle
• NEAT JOB
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NEAT LAYOUT
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NEAT MEMBER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NEAT-NICE
adj. 1951 Amer. dial. – very neat, overly tidy; excessively fastidious; too particular or fussy; old-fashioned
• NEATNIK
n. 1959 sl., chiefly US – a neat person
• NEAT NUMBER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NEATO
adj. 1968 sl., chiefly US – delightful, pleasing
• NEAT PIECE OF MERCHANDISE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NEAT PIECE OF WORK
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NEAT PROPOSITION
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NEATRESS
n. 1586 obs. – a female who has the care of neat cattle
• NEAT SKETCH
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something beautiful or attractive
• NEAVING
n. 1669 obs. – yeast or barm
• NEAZLE
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to make the noise which accompanies a sneeze
• NEB
n. 1. c725 now chiefly Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – the beak or bill of a bird
n. 2. c897 obs. – the face
n. 3. c1000 – the nose; the snout of an animal
n. 4. 1535 sl. – the neck
n. 5. 1599 – the point or nib of a pen or pencil
n. 6. 1611- the tip or point of anything; the peak of a cap or bonnet; the toe of a shoe; the extremity of anything ending in a point or narrowed part
n. 7. 1611 – the mouth of a person
n. 8. c1696 colloq. – a pen
n. 9. 1767 Sc. – the tip of a finger or toe
n. 10. 1794 Eng. dial. – a projecting hill, a prominent headland; a point of land jutting out into a lake
n. 11. 1808 Sc. – the blade of a knife
n. 12. 1824 Sc. – the time between dawn and sunrise
n. 13. 1824 Sc. – of the air: chilliness; the sharp tang of early morning
n. 14. 1838 Sc. – the muzzle-point of a gun
n. 15. 1856 Eng. dial. – an edge, a rim; the edge of a cake
n. 16. 1864 Sc. – the tip of the tongue
n. 17. 1968 Amer. dial. – a busybody
vb. 1. 1609 – to kiss; to caress
vb. 2. 1893 chiefly N. Eng. & Amer. dial. – to intervene in another’s business; to intrude, to interfere
vb. 3. Bk1905 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to scold; to miscall
vb. 4. 1928 Amer. dial. – to pry; to nose around, to be nosy or inquisitive
• NEB ABOUT
vb. 1928 Amer. dial. – to pry; to nose around, to be nosy or inquisitive
• NEB AND FEATHER
adv. 1825 Sc. – from top to toe, completely
• NEBBICH
adj. 1960 sl. – ineffectual, incompetent
n. 1960 sl. – an ineffectual or incompetent person
• NEBBIE
adj. 1. 1860 Sc. – sharp in manner, brusque, tart
adj. 2. 1888 Sc. – cheeky, impertinent
adj. 3. 1926 Sc. – smart
adj. 4. 1963 Sc. – inquisitive, nosy
• NEBBIE
n. 1950 drug culture sl. – a capsule of Nembutal™
• NEBBIN
n. 1. 1869 Eng. dial. – the nose
n. 2. 1869 Eng. dial. – the peak of a cap
• NEBBINESS
n. 1930 Sc. – shortness of temper, asperity
• NEBBISH
adj. 1941 sl. – ineffectual, incompetent
n. 1941 Amer. dial. – an ineffectual, awkward, clumsy, or hapless person
• NEBBISHE
adj. 1960 sl. – ineffectual, incompetent
n. 1960 sl. – an ineffectual or incompetent person
• NEBBISHER
adj. 1960 sl. – ineffectual, incompetent
n. 1960 sl. – an ineffectual or incompetent person
• NEBBISHY
adj. 1993 Amer. dial. – ineffectual, awkward, clumsy
• NEBBOCK
n. 1895 Sc. – the nose
• NEB-BUCKING
adv. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – jutting out awkwardly
• NEBBY
adj. 1. 1873 Sc. & Eng. dial. – sharp, ill-natured; impertinent
adj. 2. L19 Ulster & Amer. dial. – nosy, inquisitive, curious, intrusive
adj. 3. 1990s US sl. – very unsophisticated
• NEBBY-NOSE
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a busybody; a person who is always poking into other people’s affairs
• NEBBY-NOSED
adj. 1968 Amer. dial. – nosy, inquisitive, curious, intrusive
• NEBBY-NOSING
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – snooping
• NEB-CLOUT
n. 1963 Sc. – a handkerchief
• NEBEND
n. 1923 Sc. – the tip of the nose
• NEB-FU’
n. 1886 Sc. – a beakful; the least possible amount
• NEBISH
adj. 1960 sl. – ineffectual, incompetent
n. 1960 sl. – an ineffectual or incompetent person
• NEB-NOSE
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a busybody; a person who is always poking into other people’s affairs
• THE NEB OF THE MIRE-SNIPE
n. 1838 Eng. dial. – the last extremity
• NEB OF THE MORNING
n. 1824 Sc. – the time between dawn and sunrise
• NEB OUT!
int. 1968 Amer. dial. – mind your own business
• NEBSHAFT
n. 1. a1225 obs. – countenance, face
n. 2. 1340 obs. – likeness, image
• NEBSHIT
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a busybody; a person who is always poking into other people’s affairs
• NEBSIE • NEBSY
adj. 1. 1825 – prim, precise → Sc. obs.
adj. 2. 1894 – brusque; cheeky, ill-natured, sharp in manner, impertinent → Sc.
n. 1825 – an impudent old woman → Sc.
• NEB TO NEB
phr. c1230 obs. – face to face
► NEBUCHADNEZZAR n. 1. a vegetarian → 1862 sl.
n. 2. the penis → 1890 sl.
n. 3. a very large wine bottle, used especially for champagne and usually equivalent to twenty ordinary bottles or 15–16 litres; also, something of great size → 1913
n. 4. a salad → 1955 Aust. sl.
• NEBULA
n. 1. a1734 rare – a misty or obscure affair
n. 2. 1894 – fog, mist
• NEBULATE
vb. 1753 obs. rare – to become cloudy or turbid
• NEBULATED
adj. 1874 rare – clouded, dimmed
• NEBULE
n. c1420 – a cloud; a mist or fog
• NEBULIST
n. 1836 rare – an artist whose work is marked by indistinctness of outline
• NEBULIZE
vb. 1872 rare – to reduce to a mist or spray
• NEBULO-CHAOTIC
adj. 1881 nonce word – hazily confused
• NEBULON
n. 1578 obs. rare – a worthless fellow
• NEBULOSE
adj. 1. c1420 obs. rare – resembling a cloud or mist; inclined to be foggy or misty
adj. 2. 1799 – cloudy, misty, indistinct
• NEBULOSITY
n. 1809 – cloudiness; indistinctness
• NEBULOUS
adj. 1. 1386 rare – cloudy, foggy, misty, dank
adj. 2. 1831 – hazy, vague, indistinct, formless
• NEBULOUSNESS
n. 1. 1653 – cloudiness, mistiness
n. 2. 1878 – indistinctness
• NEBUS
vb. 1712 cant obs. rare – to deceive
• NEBWISE
adj. 1899 Sc. – having a keen sense of smell
• NEB WITH NEB
phr. a1000 obs. – face to face
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Lexicophilia 