• NO-ACCOUNT
adj. 1845 Amer. dial. – worthless; useless; good-for-nothing; insignificant; undependable, untrustworthy, criminal
n. 1. 1965 Amer. dial. – an idle, worthless person; a loafer; a loiterer
n. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – a deceiving person, or one that you can’t trust
n. 3. 1965 Amer. dial. – a person who doesn’t pay his bills
n. 4. 1965 Amer. dial. – an immoral woman
n. 5. 1965 Amer. dial. – something of poor quality
• NO-ACCOUNT NIGGER
n. E19 sl. – a Black who rejects the second-class role offered by the dominant White society
• NOACH
vb. 1982 Amer. dial. – to massage; to squeeze with the fingers; to rub down
• NOACH DOCTOR
n. 1963 Amer. dial. – a chiropractor
• NOAH
n. 1945 Aust. rhyming sl. (Noah’s Ark) – a shark
• NOAHARCHAIC
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – archaic
• NOAH’S
n. 1960 rhyming sl. ‘Noah’s ark = nark’ – a police informer
• NOAH’S ARK
n. 1. M19 sl. – a long, closely buttoned overcoat, fashionable c1860
n. 2. L19 rhyming sl. – a lark (bird)
n. 3. L19 rhyming sl. – a lark, a game
n. 4. L19 rhyming sl. – a park
n. 5. L19 rhyming sl. for ‘nark’ – an informer
n. 6. 1898 rhyming sl. for ‘nark’, orig. Aust. – an unpleasant or despicable person
n. 7. 1945 Aust. rhyming sl. – a shark
• NO ARSE!
int. 20C W. Indies – like hell!
• NOATCH
vb. 1982 Amer. dial. – to massage; to squeeze with the fingers; to rub down
• NOB
n. 1. 1690 Brit. – the head
n. 2. 1753 sl. – a nobleman; a gentleman
n. 3. M18 – the game of prick-the-garter, a form of swindling game, in which one pricked a belt with large needle: presumably betting on the odds of hitting a given target
n. 4. 1812 sl. – a blow on the head
n. 5. E19 sl. – the penis
n. 6. M19 sl. – a sovereign; a pound
n. 7. M19 sl. – in cribbage, the knave of trumps
n. 8. 1970s sl. – a socially inept person
n. 9. 1989 Aust. sl. – a completely reliable and dependable person
vb. 1. 1851 Brit. sl. – to collect money from an audience after a performance or other attraction
vb. 2. E19 sl. – of a man: to have sexual intercourse
vb. 3. E19 sl. – to hit on the head
vb. 4. M19 sl. – to collect money
vb. 5. M20 US sl. – to masturbate
• NO BACK TALK!
int. c1880 sl. – indicates that the matter in question is closed to discussion; there’s nothing more to be said
• NOB-A-NOB
adj. M19 sl. – intimate, close, friendly
• NO BARGAIN
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – mediocre
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something unattractive
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an unattractive person
• NO BATTLE
phr. c1870 printers’ sl. – not worthwhile
• NOBBA
adj. 1996 Brit. sl. – nine
n. M19 sl. – nine
• NOBBA SALTEE
n. M19 sl. – ninepence
• NOBBER
adj. 1996 Brit. sl. – nine
n. 1. 1811 boxing sl., rare – a blow to the head
n. 2. 1821 boxing sl., obs. – a boxer skilled in delivering blows to the head
n. 3. 1890 Brit. sl., rare – a person who seeks contributions of money, esp. after a performance; one who collects money for a street entertainer
n. 4. M19 sl. – nine
n. 5. 20C Irish sl. – one who is having sexual intercourse
• NOBBILY
adv. M18 sl. – aristocratically
• NOBBIN
n. 1944 Amer. dial. – the head
• NOBBING
n. M19 sl. – collecting money, ‘passing the hat round’
• NOBBINGS
n. 1. M19 sl. – a collection of money, esp. money tossed into a boxing ring after an amateur or boys’ fight
n. 2. Bk1903 sl. – money
• NOBBINS
n. 1998 Brit. sl. – money collected from an audience, esp. money thrown into a boxing ring
• NOBBISH
adj. M18 sl. – aristocratic
• NOBBLE
vb. 1. 1847 Brit. sl. – in horse racing: to drug a horse to impair its performance
vb. 2. 1854 Brit. sl. – to appropriate dishonestly, to steal
vb. 3. 1856 Brit. sl. – to corrupt or otherwise tamper with a jury or jury member
vb. 4. 1856 Brit. sl. – to sabotage, esp. to hinder or defeat a rival
• NOBBLER
n. 1. 1842 Aust. sl. – a drink or glass of spirits
n. 2. 1982 US sl. – a person who drugs racehorses or racings dogs to affect their racing performance
• NOBBLERISE; NOBBLERIZE
vb. 1847 Aust. sl. obs. – to drink alcohol, especially in company or as a frequent practice; to drink ‘nobblers’
• NOBBY
adj. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – stylish; smart, elegant, fashionable, good, capital
• NOBBY HALL
n. 1992 Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘ball’ – a testicle
• NOBBYS
n. 1992 Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘piles’ (Nobby Stiles) – haemorrhoids
• NOBBY STILES
n. 1992 Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘piles’ – haemorrhoids
• NOB END
n. 1964 Brit. sl. – the part of town where the money lives
• NO-BEYOND JAMMER
n. 1909 sl. – a beautiful woman
• NOB GIRDER
n. L17 UK criminals’ sl. – a bridle
• NOB HILL
n. 1912 Amer. dial. – an exclusive residential district; the aristocratic suburb of a city
• NO BIGGER THAN A GOOLTHRITE
adj. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – very small (goolthrite = any small, wizened, puckered object)
• NO BIGGER THAN A HANDFUL OF MINUTES
adj. 1953 Amer. dial. – small
• NO BIGGER THAN A PINT O’ CIDER
adj. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – very small
• NO BIGGIE!
int. 1976 US sl. – don’t worry about it
• NOB IN THE FUR TRADE
n. M19 sl. – a judge
• NO BITCH!
int. 1989 US sl. – quickly shouted after someone else reserves the front passenger bitch by shouting ‘shotgun!’; I don’t have to sit in the middle of the back seat of the car!
• NOBLE
n. 1. Bk1974 Amer. sl. – a self-righteous person; one who pretends to act from principle when actually motivated by selfish considerations
n. 2. Bk1974 Amer. sl. – a strike-breaker’s guard
n. 3. 1976 US sl. – an influential, respected prisoner
• NOBLE WEED
n. 1970 US sl. – marijuana
• NO BLOODY BON
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – no good; worthless
• NOBODY
n. Bk1974 Amer. sl. – a person without fame, notoriety, notable success, ambition or distinction; a person whose life has no special value or meaning to society
• NOBODY HOME
phr. c1915 Amer. sl. – an expression applied to any person thought to be stupid, feeble-minded, absent-minded, inattentive, etc.
• NOBODY HOME UPSTAIRS
phr. 1951 Amer. dial. – said of someone considered to be stupid, feeble-minded, absent-minded, inattentive, etc.
• NO BREAD AND BUTTER OF MINE
phr. 1719 – no concern or business of mine
• NOBROW
adj. 1995 Amer. sl. – exceptionally crude or tasteless
• NOBS
n. 1. a1529 obs. rare – a term of endearment applied to a woman; one’s dear or darling
n. 2. 1877 Amer. sl. – a person of importance
• NOB’S HILL
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – an exclusive residential district; the aristocratic suburb of a city
• NOBS’ HOUSES
n. E19 sl. – the Houses of Parliament
• NOB-THATCH
n. 1865 sl. – the hair
• NO BULL-FIGHTER
n. E20 US sl. – an effeminate male; a sissy
• NO CAN DO
phr. M19 sl. – cannot do, impossible
• NO-CAN-GO-IST
n. 20C Royal Navy sl. – a non-conformist who is excused Church parade
• NO-CAN-TELL
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a secret
• NO CARRION WILL EAT A CROW
phr. 17C colloq. – applied to gross eaters, tough persons
• NOCENT
adj. 1. c1500 obs. – harmful, injurious, hurtful
adj. 2. 1559 – guilty, criminal
n. 1. 1447 obs., often opposed to ‘innocent’ – a guilty person, a criminal
n. 2. 1563 obs. – (as ‘the nocent’) guilty people collectively
• NOCIBLE
adj. 1490 obs. rare – harmful, hurtful, injurious
• NO CIGAR
adj. 1930 colloq. – not being a winning or successful effort, as if not good enough to earn a cigar as a prize
• NOCIVE
adj. 1538 obs. – harmful, hurtful, injurious
• NOCIVOUS
adj. 1616 obs. rare – hurtful, harmful, injurious, evil
• NOCK
n. 1. 16C colloq. – the posteriors; the anus
n. 2. L16 sl. – the female genitals
vb. L16 Brit. sl. – to coit a woman
• NOCKANDRO
n. 1. 1611 obs. rare – the buttocks, the seat
n. 2. L16 sl. – the female genitals
vb. L16 Brit. sl. – to coit a woman
• NOCKET-TIME
n. 1811 Sc. – the time for taking a snack
• NOCKS
n. 20C US sl. – narcotics
• NOCKSTRESS
n. 19C Brit. sl. – a prostitute
• NOCKY
n. 1699 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – a silly, dull fellow; a foolish person; a simpleton, a dullard; an oaf
• NOCKY BOY
n. 17C colloq. – a dull oaf; a fool
• NO-CLAP MEDAL
n. World War II Army usage – the Good Conduct Medal
• NO-CLASS
adj. 1897 Amer. sl. – showing no refinement in behaviour
• NO COP
adj. 1902 Brit. sl. – of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory
• NO-COUNT
adj. 1853 Amer. dial. – worthless, lazy, shiftless; useless, good-for-nothing; insignificant, trivial
n. 1. 1965 Amer. dial. – an idle, worthless person; a loafer, a loiterer
n. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – a careless, slovenly woman
n. 3. 1965 Amer. dial. – a doctor who is not very capable or doesn’t have a very good reputation
n. 4. 1965 Amer. dial. – a tramp
n. 5. 1965 Amer. dial. – worthless money
• NO-COUNT BUM
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – an idle, worthless person; a loafer, a loiterer
• NO CRAP!
int. 1930s sl. – an exclamation of affirmation
• NOCTAMBULIST
n. 1731 – a person who walks at night, especially in their sleep; a somnambulist
• NOCTIVAGANT
adj. c1620 – wandering in the night
n. 1633 rare – one who wanders by night
• NOCTIVAGATOR
n. 1640 obs.- one who walks or wanders by night; a night-walker
• NOCTURNE
n. 19C Brit. sl. – a prostitute
• NOCTURNOUS
adj. 1727 obs. rare – pertaining to the night
• NOCULATE
vb. 1967 Amer. dial. – to inoculate
• NOD
n. 1. M16 sl. – the head
n. 2. 1936 Amer. drug culture sl. – a drug-induced stupor
n. 3. 1950s Amer. sl. – sleep
vb. 1958 drug culture sl. – to fall asleep or into a daze, esp. under the influence of a drug
• THE NOD
n. 1. c1920 Amer. sl. – the referee’s and judge’s affirmative decision
n. 2. Bk1974 Amer. sl. – one’s choice; esp. an expert’s choice to win a race or sports contest, or a sport team manager’s choice of a player to play in a specific game
n. 3. 20C sl. – approval or permission
n. 4. 20C sl. – unofficial assurance of a job, position, etc.
• NO DAYLIGHT!
int. L18 sl. – a drinking toast (daylight is the space left in a glass between the top of the liquor and the rim; such a space is not allowed when drinking bumpers)
• NOD BET
n. 20C Aust. sl. – a bet taken on credit
• NOD-BOX
n. 1940s African-American sl. – a bedroom
• NODCOCK
n. M16 – a simpleton; a fool; an oaf
• NODDARY
n. 1647 obs. rare – a foolish action, foolishness
• NODDER
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a ‘yes-man’; a sycophant, a toady
n. 2. 1950s sl. – the head
n. 3. 1970s drug culture sl. – one who becomes comatose immediately following a narcotic injection
• NODDIE
n. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a simpleton
• NODDIPOL
n. 16C colloq. – an oaf; a fool
• NODDLE
n. 1. 1509 sl.- the head
n. 2. L16 sl. – the head as a seat (or not) of intelligence
• NODDLE-BOX
n. B1900 Eng. dial. – the head
• NODDLE CASE
n. 18C sl. – a wig
• NODDLE-HEAD
n. 1. 1968 Amer. dial. – the head
n. 2. 1970 Amer. dial. – a cow that has never had horns
• NODDLE-THATCHER
n. 18C sl. – a wig-maker
• NODDY
n. 1. 16C colloq. – an oaf; a fool; a simpleton
n. 2. 1964 sl. – a lightweight police motorcycle
n. 3. 1980 sl. – a motorcycle police officer
• NODDY BIKE
n. 1964 sl. – a lightweight police motorcycle
• NODDY-HEAD
n. 16C colloq. – an oaf; a fool; a simpleton
• NODDY-HEADED
adj. 19C Brit. sl. – intoxicated with alcohol
• NODDY-PATE
n. 1660 – a simpleton, an idiot, a fool, an oaf
• NODDY-PEAK(E)
n. 16C colloq. – an oaf; a fool; a simpleton
• NODDY-POLE • NODDY-POLL
n. 16C colloq. – an oaf; a fool; a simpleton
• NODGE
vb. 19C Sc. – to copulate
• NODGECOCK
n. M16 – a simpleton; a fool; an oaf
• NOD-GUY
n. Bk1974 Amer. sl. – a yes-man; an employee whose main function is to endorse his employer’s decisions and opinions
• NO-DICE
adj. 1. Bk1974 Amer. sl. – no; without success; being refused, or refused permission
adj. 2. Bk1974 Amer. sl. – worthless
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – no luck
• NOD OFF
vb. 1. 1945 sl. – to go to sleep
vb. 2. 1965 Amer. sl. – to fall asleep, esp. under the influence of a drug
• NOD ONE’S HEAD
vb. 1. 20C Aust. prison sl. – to accept blame or responsibility for something
vb. 2. 20C Aust. prison sl. – to plead guilty
• NOD OUT
vb. c1953 Amer. sl. – to fall asleep, esp. under the influence of a drug
• NOD THE NUT
vb. 1975 Aust. sl. – to plead guilty
• NO END OF
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
• NOFFGUR
n. L19 Brit. sl., possibly back-slang – a prostitute
• NO FINGER
n. 1972 Amer. dial. – the ring finger
• NO FLIES ON
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
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Updated: February 26, 2023
Lexicophilia 