• NIDDERING
adj. 1848 – weak, cowardly, base
n. 1596 – a base coward or wretch
► NIDDICK n. the nape of the neck → 1505 Eng. dial.
• NIDDICOCK
n. 1577 – a fool, a simpleton, a ninny → obs.
• NIDDIPOL
n. 1583 – a fool → obs. rare
• NIDDLETY-NOD
n. 19C – a foolish person → Eng. dial.
• NIDDY-NODDIES
n. 19C – a contemptuous name for assumed airs or fine or showy manners, as shown by the movement of the head → Sc.
• NIDDY-NODDY
adv. 1877 – to and fro, unsteadily
n. 1. 1889 – a fool, idiot, or simpleton → Eng. dial.
n. 2. 19C – a frame on which to skein and measure wool yarn
vb. 1866 – to nod gently
• NIDDYWIT
n. 19C – a simpleton, an idiot → Eng. dial.
• NIDGE
vb. 1903 – to possess carnally → Sc. sl. (Bk.)
• NIDGERY
n. 1611 – a small or worthless object; a trifle; a knickknack; a piece of foolery → obs.
• NIDGETTY
adj. 1798 – trifling
• NIDGING
adj. 1. 1796 – restless, troublesome
adj. 2. 19C – trifling, insignificant
n. 19C – a coward
► NIDOROUS adj. 1. resembling the smell or taste of roast meat or fat; of smells: strong and unpleasant → 1626
adj. 2. of a belch, etc.: accompanied by a strong, unpleasant taste or odour → 1651 obs.
• NIDORULENT
adj. 1634 – of smells: of a strong and unpleasant nature → obs.
• NIECE
n. 1. 1671 – a nephew → Amer. dial.
n. 2. 1848 – a priest’s illegitimate daughter, or concubine → sl.
• NIEVE
n. 1641 – the fist, the closed hand; the hand → Sc. & Eng. dial.
• NIFF
n. 1. 1903 – an unpleasant smell → Brit. sl.
n. 2. 1913 – a quarrel, grudge, or spite; also dislike → Amer. dial.
vb. 1927 – to smell unpleasantly → Brit. sl.
► NIFFLING adj. of small importance or value; trifling; insignificant; worthless → 1649
• NIFF-NAFF
n. 1. 1822 – a small person; one who has not attained full strength → Sc.
n. 2. 1838 – a trifling or unimportant thing or matter; something of little value; a knick-knack, a trifle, a bauble; anything very small → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 3. ..19C – fussiness of disposition; a silly peculiarity of temper → Sc.
n. 4. 1950 – dust under a bed → Amer. dial.
vb. 1728 – to trifle; to toy; to take finicking trouble; to talk or act foolishly or aimlessly → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
• NIFFNAFFY
adj. 1785 – fastidious; trifling → sl.
• NIFFY
adj. 1903 – smelly → Brit. sl.
• NIFLE
n. 1. 1395 – originally, a trifling or fictitious tale, a jest; later, a trifle; a thing of little or no worth or importance → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1463 – a light or flimsy article of dress; perhaps a kerchief of fine material → obs.
n. 3. 1635 – an insignificant person → obs.
n. 4. 1883 – a fit of idleness → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 5. 1905 – a whim, a fancy; fussiness → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 1. 1785 – to pilfer, to steal articles of small value → Eng. dial.
vb. 2. 1790 – to trifle, to waste time, or spend it in doing trifling things; to idle or loaf; to work at a slow pace → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 3. 1862 – to talk folly (Bk.)
vb. 4. 1905 – to walk with short steps → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• NIFTIC
adj. 1942 – excellent; first-rate → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• NIFTY
adj. 1. 1907 – highly skilled or capable → sl., orig. US
adj. 2. 1913 – neat, stylish, conspicuous → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
adj. 3. 1942 – excellent; first-rate → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 1. ..19C – copulation → Brit. sl.
n. 2. 1942 – an attractive girl → Amer. students’ sl. (Bk.)
n. 3. 1942 – something excellent → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• NIFTY ARTICLE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NIFTY BABY
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NIFTY BEANS
adj. 1971 Amer. sl. – absolutely splendid, great, wonderful; admirable
• NIFTY DISH
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NIFTY JOB
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NIFTY-KEEN
adj. 1971 Amer. sl. – absolutely splendid, great, wonderful; admirable
• NIFTY LAYOUT
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NIFTY MEMBER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NIFTY NUMBER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NIFTY PIECE OF MERCHANDISE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NIFTY PIECE OF WORK
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NIFTY PROPOSITION
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• NIG
n. 1. 19C Brit. back-slang – gin
n. 2. c1832 sl., derogatory or offensive – a Black person
vb. 1. 18C Brit. sl. – to coit a woman
vb. 2. c1696 sl. – to clip money
vb. 3. 1754 sl. – to catch
vb. 4. Bk1902 Amer. sl. – at cards: to revoke
• NIGETTE
n. 1990s US sl. – a Black woman or girl
• NIGGA
n. 1970s African-American sl. – a Black person
• NIGGA BEATER
n. 2000s African-American sl. – any blunt instrument
• NIGGA CHOPS
n. 2000s African-American sl. – a fellow Black person
• NIGGALICIOUS
adj. 2000s African-American sl. – of a Black woman: heavily built
• NIGGEDY-NAGGETY
adj. 1887 Eng. dial. – irritable, nasty-tempered, bad-tempered
• NIGGAR
n. 18C derogatory – a term of address for a Black person
• NIGGARDOUS
adj. a1492 obs. – niggardly, parsimonious, stingy
NIGGER USAGE NOTE: (from Wikipedia)
In the present-day English language, the word ‘nigger’ is an ethnic slur, usually directed at Black people. The word originated as a neutral term referring to people with black skin, as a variation of the Spanish and Portuguese noun negro, a descendant of the Latin adjective ‘niger’ (“black”). It was often used derogatorily, and by the mid-twentieth century, particularly in the United States, its usage became unambiguously pejorative, a racist insult. Accordingly, it began to disappear from popular culture, and its continued inclusion in classic works of literature has sparked controversy.
• NIGGER
adj. 1942 Amer. sl., derogatory – cheap; inferior; makeshift
n. 1. 1786 sl., now derogatory or offensive when used by White people – a Black person
n. 2. 1895 Amer. dial. – a niggard
• NIGGER AROUND
vb. 1966 Amer. dial., derogatory – to idle, to be lazy
• NIGGER BABIES
n. M19 US sl., derogatory – cannonballs
• NIGGER BAIT
n. 1950s sl., derogatory – an excess of chrome accessories on an automobile
• NIGGER BALLS
n. c1970 Amer. dial., derogatory – black marbles
• NIGGER BATH
n. 1953 Amer. dial., derogatory – a talcum-powder bath
• NIGGER-CHASER
n. L19 US sl., derogatory – a slingshot
• NIGGER DAY
n. 1931 Amer. dial., derogatory – Saturday
• NIGGERDOM
n. M19 US sl., derogatory – the life and culture of the American Black people
• NIGGER-DRIVER
n. M19 US colloq., derogatory – a hard taskmaster; one who drives Blacks or one who is powerful and brutal
• NIGGER-DRIVING
n. 1880 colloq., now derogatory or offensive – exhausting with work
• NIGGER DRUNK
adj. 1940s US sl., derogatory – very drunk
• NIGGER FEVER
n. 1969 Amer. dial., derogatory – a moving about slowly and without energy
• NIGGER-FISHING
n. 1. 1940s US sl., derogatory – leisurely fishing for catfish or carp
n. 2. 20C US colloq., derogatory – fishing from the bank of a river or pond
• NIGGER FLICKER
n. 1950s African-American sl., derogatory – a weapon, usually a small knife or a razor blade with one side heavily taped to preserve the user’s fingers
• NIGGER-FLIPPER
n. 1889 Amer. dial., derogatory – a slingshot
• NIGGER FRONTS
n. 1970s African-American sl., derogatory – extreme stylishness in dress
• NIGGER GIN
n. 1900s US sl., derogatory – inferior or synthetic gin
• NIGGER GOLF
n. 1910s US sl., derogatory – the game of craps dice
• NIGGERGRAM
n. 20C W. Indies sl., derogatory – a stupid rumour; demeaning gossip
• NIGGER HAM
n. 1940s US sl., derogatory – a watermelon
• NIGGER HATER
n. 1968 Amer. dial., derogatory – a mockingbird
• NIGGERHEAD
n. 1. 1847 Amer. dial., derogatory – a rock, a stone, or boulder, esp. one dark in colour; a black boulder partially submerged in the water
n. 2. 19C US derogatory – a plug of black tobacco; at one time, a brand name of chewing tobacco
n. 3. 1914 Amer. dial., derogatory – a storm cloud
n. 4. E20 US sl., derogatory – a prune
• NIGGERHEADING
n. 1968 Amer. dial., derogatory – wasting time by not working on the job
• NIGGER HEAVEN
n. 1. 1878 Amer. dial., derogatory – the highest balcony in a theatre
n. 2. 1906 Amer. dial., derogatory – a paradise chiefly characterized by drinking and dancing
• NIGGER HEEL
n. 1968 Amer. dial., derogatory – bad liquor, esp. gin
• NIGGER-IN-A-BLANKET
n. 1944 Amer. West. sl.. derogatory – a dessert usually made of raisins in dough
• NIGGER IN THE BARREL
n. 1967 Amer. dial., derogatory – a concealed fact, factor, or motive; something suspicious
• NIGGER IN THE FENCE
n. 1847 Amer. dial., derogatory – an underhand or concealed fact, factor, or motive; something suspicious
• NIGGER IN THE WOODPILE
n. 1. 1846 Amer. dial., derogatory – an underhand or concealed fact, factor, or motive; something suspicious
n. 2. 1958 Amer. dial., derogatory – an illegitimate child
n. 3. 1986 Amer. dial., derogatory – a degree of Black ancestry in one who is apparently White
• NIGGER JIGGER
n. 1967 Amer. dial., derogatory – a large pocketknife with blades that fold in and out
• NIGGER-KILLER
n. 1. 1961 Amer. dial., derogatory – a slingshot
n. 2. 1967 Amer. dial., derogatory – a large pocketknife with blades that fold in and out
• NIGGER LIQUOR
n. 1967 Amer. dial., derogatory – bad liquor, esp. when illegally distilled
• NIGGER LUCK
n. 1851 Amer. dial., derogatory – good luck, esp. when unexpected; very good fortune
• NIGGERLY
adj. 1909 Amer. dial. – niggardly
• NIGGER-MOUTH
n. 20C W. Indies sl., derogatory – a stupid rumour; demeaning gossip
• NIGGER NEWS
n. 1859 Amer. dial., derogatory – gossip
• NIGGER NIGHT
n. 1928 Amer. dial., derogatory – Saturday night
• NIGGER NUT
n. 1986 Amer. dial., derogatory – the Brazil nut
• NIGGER ON THE FENCE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl., derogatory – something wrong
• NIGGER PANCAKE
n. 1968 Amer. dial., derogatory – manure used in the fields
• NIGGER RICH
adj. 1930 Amer. dial., derogatory – foolishly or vulgarly extravagant; spending money immediately
• NIGGER RIG
vb. 1965 Amer. dial., derogatory – to make or repair something poorly or without proper materials
• NIGGER-RIGGED
adj. 1965 – makeshift; poorly constructed (Amer. dial. derogatory)
• NIGGERS’ HEAVEN
n. 1878 – the highest balcony in a theatre (Amer. dial. derogatory)
• NIGGER-SHOOTER
n. 1. 1866 – a slingshot (Amer. dial, derogatory)
n. 2. 1876 – a catapult (US sl., now offensive)
• NIGGERS IN A BLANKET
n. 1941 – blackberries cooked in pastry turnovers (Amer. dial., derogatory)
• NIGGER’S LIPS
n. 1970s – potato chips (rhyming sl., derogatory)
• NIGGERS’ NIGHT
n. 1928 – Saturday night (Amer. dial., derogatory)
• NIGGER’S PIPE
n. 1969 – a puffball (Amer. dial., derogatory)
• NIGGER SPIT
n. L19 – the lumps in Demerara sugar (sl., derogatory)
• NIGGER STEAK
n. 1940s – liver (African-American sl., derogatory)
• NIGGER-STICK
n. 1971 – a baton carried by policemen, prison warders, etc. (US sl., derogatory)
• NIGGER STICKER
n. 1967 Amer. dial., derogatory – a large pocketknife with blades that fold in and out
• NIGGER TALK
n. M19 – chatter; irresponsible gossip (US sl., derogatory)
• NIGGERTOE
n. 1896 – the Brazil nut (Amer. dial., derogatory)
• NIGGER-TOED
adj. 1968 Amer. dial., derogatory – having toes that point out
• NIGGERTOWN
n. 1942 – a Black neighbourhood or district (Amer. dial., derogatory)
• NIGGER UP
vb. 1967 – to do, make, or repair something in a careless, haphazard, or tasteless manner; to mess something up (Amer. dial., derogatory)
• NIGGERVILLE
n. 1857 – a Black neighbourhood or district (Amer. dial., derogatory)
• NIGGER WAR
n. 1943 – the American Civil War (Amer. dial., derogatory)
• NIGGER WHISKY
n. 1967 – bad liquor, esp. when illegally distilled (Amer. dial., derogartory)
• NIGGET
n. 1. B1900 – a fool, simpleton, idiot (obs.)
n. 2. B1900 – a coward (obs.)
• NIGGING
n. L17 – clipping coins (sl.)
• NIGGISH
adj. 1542 – niggardly, miserly, stingy, mean, parsimonious (obs.)
• NIGGLE
n. 1886 sl. – a complaint; an instance of complaining
vb. 1. .M16 sl. – to have sexual intercourse
vb. 2. 1796 UK colloq. – to irritate, to cause a slight but persistent annoyance
vb. 3. 1893 UK colloq. – to do something in a finicky, fussy, or time-wasting manner
vb. 4. 1948 UK sl. – in horse racing: to urge a horse with hands and rein
• NIGGLED
adj. 1. 1878 UK sl. – annoyed, irritated, esp. when made so by disappointed or the pettiness of others
adj. 2. 1950s sl. – annoyed, irritated, tetchy
• NIGGLER
n. 1. 17C sl. – a promiscuous man
n. 2. 17C sl. – a prostitute
n. 3. L17 UK criminals’ sl. – a clipper of coins
• NIGGLING
adj. M19 sl. – irritatingly petty; intrinsically unimportant but time and energy consuming n. 17C sl. – sexual intercourse
• NIGGLY
adj. 1950s sl. – ill-tempered; obsessed with irrelevancies and petty problems
• NIGGY
n. 1. 2000s African-American sl. – a White person who acts like a Black person
n. 2. 2000s UK juvenile sl. – a dark tan
• NIGH
adj. Bk1902 colloq. – formerly careful; now (contemptuously) stingy; close-fisted
• NIGHABOUT
adv. 1. 1857 Amer. dial. – nearly, almost
adv. 2. 1884 Amer. dial. – close by, near by, in the vicinity
• NIGH AS PEAS
adj. 1909 Amer. dial. – very near
• NIGH CUT
n. 1848 Amer. dial. – a short-cut; a bypath
• NIGH ENOUGH
n. 1930s sl. – a homosexual male prostitute
• NIGHLY
adv. 1843 Amer. dial. – nearly, almost
• NIGH ONTO
adv. 1843 Amer. dial. – nearly, almost
• NIGHT AND DAY
adj. 20C rhyming sl. – grey
n. M19 rhyming sl. – a play
vb. M19 rhyming sl. – to see a play
• NIGHTBIRD
n. 1. 17C sl. – a prostitute
n. 2. E19 sl. – a wandering vagabond
• NIGHT-BOWL
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
• NIGHT-BUCKET
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
• NIGHT BULL
n. 1960s US prison sl. – a guard who works the night shift
• NIGHTCAP
n. 1. E17 sl. – a bully who specializes in finding victims at night
n. 2. 1818 Brit. sl. – the final alcoholic drink of the night
n. 3. 19C sl. – a prostitute
n. 4. 19C sl. – a thief who prefers to work at night
n. 5. 1910s US sl. – the second game in a baseball ‘double-header’
n. 6. 1940s US criminals’ sl. – a night watchman
n. 7. 1950s sl. – the last portion of a drug prior to bed
n. 8. 1951 US sl. – in horse racing: the last race of the day
n. 9. 1970s African-American usage – a small skull-cap worn by many Black men
n. 10. 1996 Brit. sl. – a marijuana cigarette, esp. the last one of the day
• NIGHT-CHAMBER
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
• NIGHT CLOTHES
n. 20C US criminals’ sl. – dark, close-fitting clothes used when committing a burglary at night
• NIGHTCLUB TAN
n. 1973 Brit. sl. – a pale complexion
• NIGHT COCKY
n. 2000 Brit. sl. – in prison: a night patrolman
• NIGHT COMPASS
n. 1985 Cayman Islands – a chamber pot
• NIGHT CRAWLER
n. 1. 1924 Amer. dial. – an earthworm
n. 2. 1950s US sl. – someone who socializes or works late at night
n. 3. 1950s US criminals’ sl. – a prisoner who steals from other inmates
n. 4. 1960s US homosexual sl. – a homophobic thug
n. 5. 1970s US sl. – the penis
• NIGHT CREEPER
n. 1973 Amer. dial. – an earthworm
• NIGHT DOCTOR
n. 1. 1893 Amer. dial. – a person (or demonic figure) thought to kill people, esp. Blacks, usually to obtain bodies for dissection
n. 2. 1954 Amer. dial. – a hobgoblin that is used to threaten children and make them behave
• NIGHTERTALE
n. a1300 obs., chiefly Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – night-time, the night
• NIGHTERY
n. 1934 US sl. – a nightclub
• NIGHT FOR NIGHT
n. 1988 US sl. – in television and film-making: a scene set at night that is also shot at night
• NIGHT FOWL
n. 1. 17C sl. – a prostitute
n. 2. E19 sl. – a wandering vagabond
• NIGHT-GLASS
n. 1899 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
• NIGHTHAWK
n. 1. 1818 Brit. sl. – a person who is active late at night
n. 2. 1868 US sl. – a taxi driver who works late at night
n. 3. 1903 Amer. dial. – a ranch hand in charge of horses or cattle at night
n. 4. 1967 Amer. dial. – an earthworm
n. 5. 1968 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
n. 6. 1968 Amer. dial. – a mosquito
vb. 1964 Amer. dial. – to herd or guard cattle at night
• NIGHTHAWKER
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – an earthworm
• NIGHT HERDER
n. 1873 Amer. dial. – one who herds or guards livestock at night
• NIGHT HOUSE
n. 1957 US sl. – an illegal lottery operating at night
• NIGHTIE
n. 1871 colloq. – a nightdress
• NIGHTINGALE
n. 1968 US sl. – a police informer
• NIGHT-JAR
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
• NIGHT MANOEUVRES
n. 1962 US sl. – a social date
• NIGHTMARE
n. 1. 1920 Amer. West usage – a horse or mule used on night duty
n. 2. 1927 Brit. sl. – an unpleasant experience; an unpleasant person
• NIGHT-MUG
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
• NIGHT-NIGHT
phr. 1896 Brit., orig. children’s vocabulary – good night
• NIGHT NURSE
n. 1996 US sl. – a cigarette smoked in the middle of the night by an addict whose body is awakened by the craving for nicotine in the night
• NIGHT-OWL
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
• NIGHT-PAIL
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
• NIGHT-PAN
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
• NIGHT-PIECE
n. 1. 1605 – a painting or picture representing a night scene
n. 2. 1620 obs. rare – a mistress
n. 3. 1648 – a literary composition descriptive of a scene by night
n. 4. B1900 sl. – a bedfellow, male or female
n. 5. B1900 sl. – a harlot
• NIGHT-POT
n. 1954 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
• NIGHT PROWLER
n. 1939 Amer. dial. – an earthworm
• NIGHT-RAIL
n. 1899 Amer. dial. – a nightgown
• NIGHT RAINBOW
n. 1954 Amer. dial. – the Northern Lights
• NIGHT RIDER
n. 1. 1951 US sl. – a person who enjoys the wild side of life at night
n. 2. 1951 US sl. – in horse racing: someone who takes a horse out for a night workout in the hope of lessening its performance in a race the next day
• NIGHTS BELONG TO CHARLIE
phr. 1990 US sl. – used as a rule of thumb by US soldiers in Vietnam, acknowledging the ascendancy of the Viet Cong during the dark
• NIGHT SNEAK
n. M18 UK criminals’ sl. – a thief who works after dark
• NIGHTSTICK
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a praying mantis
• NIGHT TRAIN
n. 1984 US sl. – suicide
• NIGHT-URN
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a chamber-pot
• NIGHT WALKER
n. 1894 Amer. dial. – an earthworm
• NIGHT WATER
n. 1938 Amer. dial. – urine excreted at night
• NIGHT WIGGLER
n. 1986 Amer. dial. – an earthworm
• NIGHT WORK
n. 1959 Trinidad and Tobago – at night: urination or defecation other than in a toilet
• NIGHT-WORM
n. 1. 1430-40 obs. – a treacherous comrade
n. 2. 1605 obs. – a prostitute
n. 3. 1774 obs. – a glow-worm
n. 4. 1966 Amer. dial. – an earthworm
• NIGHT WRANGLER
n. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a man who tends a lot of horses at night
• NIGHTY
n. 1871 colloq. – a nightdress
• NIGHTY-NIGHT
phr. 1896 Brit., orig. children’s vocabulary – good night
• NIGH UPON
adv. 1871 Amer. dial. – nearly, almost
• NIGH WAY
n. 1939 Amer. dial. – a short-cut; a bypath
• NIGHWHAT
adv. c1290 obs. rare – almost, nearly
• NIG IN
vb. 2003 Brit. sl. – to sneak in without paying
• NIGLE
vb. M16 sl. – to have sexual intercourse
• NIGLER
n. 1. 17C sl. – a promiscuous man
n. 2. L17 UK criminals’ sl. – a clipper of coins
• NIGLING
n. 17C sl. – sexual intercourse
• NIGNAY
n. 1. a1689 Sc. – a knickknack, a trinket, a trifle; a trifling, useless thing or proceeding; an unnecessary ornament or frill, a gewgaw
n. 2. 1920 Sc. – a quarrelsome hypercritical person; one who picks faults
vb. 1880 Sc. – to trifle, to fuss about, to work without result; to hum and haw, to be undecided, to vacillate; to do what is useless; to show reluctance
• NIG-NOG
n. 1. 1953 Brit. sl. – a foolish person
n. 2. 1959 sl., derogatory or offensive – a Black person
• NIGON
n. 1303 obs. – a parsimonious person, a niggard, a miser
• NIGRA(H)
n. 1905 Amer. dial., now mainly derogatory or offensive – a Black person
• NIGREDITY
n. 1547 obs. rare – blackness
• NIGRICANT
adj. 1772 – black
• NIGRO
n. 1893 Amer. dial. – a Black person
• NIGS
n. c1696 sl. – the clippings of money
Back to INDEX N
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Updated: February 28, 2023
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