Niagara period
Ni•ag"a•ra pe"ri•od (Geol.) A subdivision or the American Upper Silurian system, embracing the Medina, Clinton, and Niagara epoch. The rocks of the Niagara epoch, mostly limestones, are extensively distributed, and at Niagara Falls consist of about eighty feet of shale supporting a greater thickness of limestone, which is gradually undermined by the removal of the shale. See Chart of Geology.
Nias
Ni´as, n. [F. niais. See Eyas.] A young hawk; an eyas; hence, an unsophisticated person. [Obs.]
Nib, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nebbed p. pr. & vb. n. Nibbing.] To furnish with a nib; to point; to mend the point of; as to nib a pen.
Nibble
Nib´ble, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nibbled p. pr. & vb. n. Nibbling ] [Cf. Nip.] To bite by little at a time; to seize gently with the mouth; to eat slowly or in small bits.
"Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep." Shak.
Nibblingly
Nib´bling•ly, adv. In a nibbling manner; cautiously.
Nibelungenlied
Ni´be•lung•en•lied, n. [G. See Nibelungs; Lied.] A great medieval German epic of unknown authorship containing traditions which refer to the Burgundians at the time of Attila (called Etzel in the poem) and mythological elements pointing to heathen times.
Niblick
Nib´lick, n. A kind of golf stick used to lift the ball out of holes, ruts, etc.
Nicagua
Ni•ca´gua, n. (Zoöl.) The laughing falcon. See under laughing.
Nice, a. [ Compar. Nicer superl. Nicest.] [OE., foolish, fr. OF. nice ignorant, fool, fr. L. nescius ignorant; n. not + scius knowing, scire to know. perhaps influenced by E. nesh delicate, soft. See No, and Science.]
1. Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also weak; effeminate. [Obs.] Gower.
"But say that we ben wise and nothing nice." Chaucer.
2. Of trifling moment; unimportant; trivial. [Obs.]
"The letter was not nice, but full of charge
Of dear import." Shak.
3. Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious in small matters.
"Curious not knowing, not exact but nice." Pope.
"And to taste
Think not I shall be nice." Milton.
4. Delicate; refined; dainty; pure.
"Dear love, continue nice and chaste." Donne.
"A nice and subtile happiness." Milton.
5. Apprehending slight differences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as a nice taste or judgment. "Our author happy in a judge so nice." Pope. "Nice verbal criticism." Coleridge.
6. Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished; as nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application; exactly or fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as a nice point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy.
"The difference is too nice
Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice." Pope.
7. Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice person; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc. [Loosely & Colloquially] To make nice of, to be scrupulous about. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn. — Dainty; delicate; exquisite; fine; accurate; exact; correct; precise; particular; scrupulous; punctilious; fastidious; squeamish; finical; effeminate; silly.
Nicene
Ni´cene, a. [L. Nicaenus, fr. Nicaea Nice, Gr. .] Of or pertaining to Nice, a town of Asia Minor, or to the ecumenical council held there a. d. 325. Nicene Creed, a summary of Christian faith, composed and adopted by the Council of Nice, against Arianism, a. d. 325, altered and confirmed by the Council of Constantinople, a. d. 381, and by subsequent councils.
Niched., a. Placed in a niche. "Those niched shapes of noble mold." Tennyson.
Nick, n. [AS. nicor a marine monster; akin to D. nikker a water spite, Icel. nykr, ONG. nihhus a crocodile, G. nix a water sprite; cf. Gr. to wash, Skr. nij. Cf. Nix.] (Northern Myth.) An evil spirit of the waters. Old Nick, the evil one; the devil. [Colloq.]
Nick, n. [Akin to Nock.]
1. A notch cut into something; as: (a) A score for keeping an account; a reckoning. [Obs.] (b) (Print.) A notch cut crosswise in the shank of a type, to assist a compositor in placing it properly in the stick, and in distribution. W. Savage. (c) A broken or indented place in any edge or surface; nicks in china.
2. A particular point or place considered as marked by a nick; the exact point or critical moment.
"To cut it off in the very nick." Howell.
"This nick of time is the critical occasion for the gainger of a point." L’Estrange.
Nick, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nicked p. pr. & vb. n. Nicking.]
1. To make a nick or nicks in; to notch; to keep count of or upon by nicks; as to nick a stick, tally, etc.
2. To mar; to deface; to make ragged, as by cutting nicks or notches in.
"And thence proceed to nicking sashes." Prior.
"The itch of his affection should not then
Have nicked his captainship." Shak.
3. To suit or fit into, as by a correspondence of nicks; to tally with.
"Words nicking and resembling one another are applicable to different significations." Camden.
4. To hit at, or in, the nick; to touch rightly; to strike at the precise point or time.
"The just season of doing things must be nicked, and all accidents improved." L’Estrange.
5. To make a cross cut or cuts on the under side of (the tail of a horse, in order to make him carry it higher).
Nick, v. t. To nickname; to style. [Obs.]
"For Warbeck, as you nick him, came to me." Ford. { Nick"ar nut•, Nick"ar tree• }. (Bot.) Same as Nicker nut, Nicker tree.
Nickel
Nick´el, n. [G., fr. Sw. nickel, abbrev. from Sw. kopparnickel copper-nickel, a name given in derision, as it was thought to be a base ore of copper. The origin of the second part of the word is uncertain. Cf. Kupfer-nickel, Copper-nickel.]
1. (Chem.) A bright silver-white metallic element. It is of the iron group, and is hard, malleable, and ductile. It occurs combined with sulphur in millerite, with arsenic in the mineral niccolite, and with arsenic and sulphur in nickel glance. Symbol Ni. Atomic weight 58.6. On account of its permanence in air and inertness to oxidation, it is used in the smaller coins, for plating iron, brass, etc., for chemical apparatus, and in certain alloys, as german silver. It is magnetic, and is very frequently accompanied by cobalt, both being found in meteoric iron.
2. A small coin made of or containing nickel; esp., a five-cent piece. [Colloq. U.S.] Nickel silver, an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc; — usually called german silver; called also argentan.
Nickeliferous
Nick•el•if´er•ous, a. [ Nickel + -ferous.] Containing nickel; as nickelferous iron.
Nicker
Nick´er, n. [From Nick, v. t.]
1. One of the night brawlers of London formerly noted for breaking windows with half- pence. [Cant] Arbuthnot.
2. The cutting lip which projects downward at the edge of a boring bit and cuts a circular groove in the wood to limit the size of the hole that is bored.
Nicking
Nick´ing, n. [From Nick, v. t.] (Coal Mining) (a) The cutting made by the hewer at the side of the face. (b) pl. Small coal produced in making the nicking.
Nickle
Nic´kle, n. (Zoöl.) The European woodpecker, or yaffle; — called also nicker pecker.
Nickname
Nick´name, n. [OE. ekename surname, hence, a nickname, an ekename being understood as a nekename, influenced also by E. nick, v. See Eke, and Name.] A name given in contempt, derision, or sportive familiarity; a familiar or an opprobrious appellation.
Nickname
Nick´name, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nicknamed (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Nicknaming.] To give a nickname to; to call by a nickname.
"You nickname virtue; vice you should have spoke." Shak.
"I altogether disclaim what has been nicknamed the doctrine of finality." Macaulay.
Nicotian
Ni•co´tian, n. [F. nicotiane; — so called from Nicot, who introduced it into France, a. d. 1560.] Tobacco. [R.] B. Jonson.
Nicotian
Ni•co´tian, a. Pertaining to, or derived from, tobacco. [R.] Bp. Hall.
Nicotiana
Ni•co•ti•a´na, n. [NL. See Nicotian.] (Bot.) A genus of American and Asiatic solanaceous herbs, with viscid foliage and funnel-shaped blossoms. Several species yield tobacco. See Tobacco.
Nicotianine
Ni•co´ti•a•nine, n. [F. nicotianine. See Nicotian.] (Chem.) A white waxy substance having a hot, bitter taste, extracted from tobacco leaves and called also tobacco camphor.
Nicotine
Nic´o•tine, n. [F. nicotine. See Nicotian.] (Chem.) An alkaloid which is the active principle of tobacco. It is a colorless, transparent, oily liquid, having an acrid odor, and an acrid burning taste. It is intensely poisonous. Ure.
Nictate
Nic´tate, v. i. [L. nictare, nictatum, from nicere to beckon.] To wink; to nictitate.
Nictation
Nic•ta´tion, n. [L. nictatio cf. F. nictation.] the act of winking; nictitation.
Nictitate
Nic´ti•tate, v. i. [See Nictate.] To wink; to nictate. Nictitating membrane (Anat.), a thin membrane, found in many animals at the inner angle, or beneath the lower lid, of the eye, and capable of being drawn across the eyeball; the third eyelid; the haw.
Nidamental
Nid•a•men´tal, a. [L. nidamentum materials for a nest, fr. nidus nest. See Nest.] (Zoöl.) Of, pertaining to, or baring, eggs or egg capsules; as the nidament capsules of certain gastropods; nidamental glands. See Illust. of Dibranchiata.
Nidary
Ni´da•ry, n. [L. nidus a nest.] A collection of nests. [R.] velyn.
Nide, n. [L. nidus a nest: cf. F. nid.] A nestful; a brood; as a nide of pheasants. [Obs.]
Nidering
Ni´der•ing, a. [See Niding.] Infamous; dastardly. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.
Nidgery
Nidg´er•y, n. [See Nidget.] A trifle; a piece of foolery. [Obs.] Skinner.
Nidificate
Nid´i•fi•cate, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Nidificated p. pr. & vb. n. Nidificating.] [L. nidificare, nidificatum; nidus nest + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy, and cf. nest.] To make a nest.
"Where are the fishes which nidificated in trees?" Lowell.
Nidification
Nid•i•fi•ca´tion, n. [Cf. F. nidification.] The act or process of building a nest.
Nidor
Ni´dor, n. [L.] Scent or savor of meat or food, cooked or cooking. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
Nidorous
Ni´dor•ous, a. [L. nidorosus steaming, reeking: cf. F. nidoreux. See Nidor.] Resembling the smell or taste of roast meat, or of corrupt animal matter. [R.]
Nidulant
Nid´u•lant, a. [L. nidulans, p. pr.: cf. F. Nidulant.]
1. Nestling, as a bird in its nest.
2. (Bot.) Lying loose in pulp or cotton within a berry or pericarp, as in a nest.
Nidulate
Nid´u•late, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Nidulated p. pr. & vb. n. Nidulating.] [L. nidulari, fr. nidulus, dim. of nidus a nest.] To make a nest, as a bird. [R.] Cockeram.
Nidulation
Nid•u•la´tion, n. The time of remaining in the nest. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Nidus
Ni´dus, n. ; pl. nidi (#). [L. See Nidi, Nest.] A nest: a repository for the eggs of birds, insects, etc.; a breeding place; esp., the place or substance where parasites or the germs of a disease effect lodgment or are developed.
Niece, n. [OE. nece, F. nièce, LL. neptia, for L. neptis a granddaughter, niece, akin to nepos. See Nephew.]
1. A relative, in general; especially, a descendant, whether male or female; a granddaughter or a grandson. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Wyclif. Shak.
2. A daughter of one’s brother or sister, or of one’s brother-in-law or sister-in-law.
Nief, n. See Neif, the fist.
Niellist
Ni•el´list, n. One who practices the style of ornamentation called niello.
Niello
Ni•el´lo, n. [It. niello, LL. nigellum a black of blackish enamel, fr. L. nigellus, dim. of niger black. See Negro, and cf. Anneal.]
1. A metallic alloy of a deep black color.
2. The art, process, or method of decorating metal with incised designs filled with the black alloy.
3. A piece of metal, or any other object, so decorated.
4. An impression on paper taken from an ancient incised decoration or metal plate.
Niggard
Nig´gard, a. Like a niggard; meanly covetous or parsimonious; niggardly; miserly; stingy.
Niggard
Nig´gard, v. t. & i. To act the niggard toward; to be niggardly. [R.] Shak.
Niggardly
Nig´gard•ly, a. Meanly covetous or avaricious in dealing with others; stingy; niggard.
"Where the owner of the house will be bountiful, it is not for the steward to be niggardly." Bp. Hall.
Syn. — Avaricious; covetous; parsimonious; sparing; miserly; penurious; sordid; stingy. See Avaricious.
Niggardship
Nig´gard•ship, n. Niggardliness. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
nigged, n. [Prov. E. nig to clip money.] (Masonry) Hammer-dressed; — said of building stone.
Nigger
Nig´ger, n. A negro; — in vulgar derision or depreciation.
Niggerhead
Nig´ger•head, n. A strong black chewing tobacco, usually in twisted plug form; negro head.
Niggish
Nig´gish, a. [See Niggard.] Niggardly. [Obs.]
Niggle
Nig´gle, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Niggled p. pr. & vb. n. Niggling ] [Dim. of Prov. E. nig to clip money; cf. also Prov. E. nig a small piece.] To trifle with; to deceive; to mock. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
Niggling
Nig´gling, n. Finicky or pottering work; specif. (Fine Arts), minute and very careful workmanship in drawing, painting, or the like, esp. when bestowed on unimportant detail. { Night letter, Night lettergram }. See Letter, above.
Nigh, a. [ Compar. Nigher superl. Nighest, or Next .] [OE. nigh, neigh, neih, AS. neáh, n. ; akin to D. n. , adv., OS. nah, a., OHG. nah, G. nah, a., nach to, after, Icel. n. (in comp.) nigh, Goth. nhw, nhwa, adv., nigh. Cf. Near, Neighbor, Next.]
1. Not distant or remote in place or time; near.
"The loud tumult shows the battle nigh." Prior.
2. Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate. "Nigh kinsmen." Knolles.
"Ye … are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Eph. ii. 13.
Syn. — Near; close; adjacent; contiguous; present; neighboring.
Nigh, adv. [AS. neáh, n. . See Nigh, a. ]
1. In a situation near in place or time, or in the course of events; near.
"He was sick, nigh unto death." Phil. ii. 27.
"He drew not nigh unheard; the angel bright,
Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned." Milton.
2. Almost; nearly; as he was nigh dead.
Nigh, v. t. & i. To draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near. [Obs.] Wyclif (Matt. iii. 2).
Nigh, prep. Near to; not remote or distant from. "was not this nigh shore?" Shak.
Nighness
Nigh´ness, n. The quality or state of being nigh. [R.] "Nighness of blood." Holished.
Night, n. [OE. night, niht, AS. neaht, niht; akin to D. nacht, OS. & OHG. naht, G. nacht, Icel. ntt, Sw. natt, Dan. nat, Goth. nachts, Lith. naktis, Russ. noche, W. nos, Ir. nochd, L. nox, noctis, Gr.,, Skr. nakta, nakti. rad. 265. Cf. Equinox, Nocturnal.]
1. That part of the natural day when the sun is beneath the horizon, or the time from sunset to sunrise; esp., the time between dusk and dawn, when there is no light of the sun, but only moonlight, starlight, or artificial light.
"And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night." Gen. i. 5.
2. Hence: (a) Darkness; obscurity; concealment.
"Nature and nature’s laws lay hid in night." Pope. (b) Intellectual and moral darkness; ignorance. (c) A state of affliction; adversity; as a dreary night of sorrow. (d) The period after the close of life; death.
"She closed her eyes in everlasting night." Dryden. (e) A lifeless or unenlivened period, as when nature seems to sleep. "Sad winter’s night". Spenser. Night is sometimes used, esp. with participles, in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as night- blooming, night-born, night-warbling, etc. Night by night, Night after night, nightly; many nights.
"So help me God, as I have watched the night,
Ay, night by night, in studying good for England." Shak. — Night bird. (Zoöl.) (a) The moor hen ( Gallinula chloropus). (b) The Manx shearwater ( Puffinus Anglorum). — Night blindness. (Med.) See Hemeralopia. - - Night cart, a cart used to remove the contents of privies by night. — Night churr, (Zoöl.), the nightjar. — Night crow, a bird that cries in the night. — Night dog, a dog that hunts in the night, — used by poachers. — Night fire. (a) Fire burning in the night. (b) Ignis fatuus; Will-o’-the-wisp; Jask-with-a- lantern. — Night flyer (Zoöl.), any creature that flies in the night, as some birds and insects. — night glass, a spyglass constructed to concentrate a large amount of light, so as see objects distinctly at night. Totten. — Night green, iodine green. — Night hag, a witch supposed to wander in the night. — Night hawk (Zoöl.), an American bird ( Chordeiles Virginianus), allied to the goatsucker. It hunts the insects on which it feeds toward evening, on the wing, and often, diving down perpendicularly, produces a loud whirring sound, like that of a spinning wheel. Also sometimes applied to the European goatsuckers. It is called also bull bat. — Night heron ( Zoöl.), any one of several species of herons of the genus Nycticorax, found in various parts of the world. The best known species is Nycticorax griseus, or N. nycticorax, of Europe, and the American variety (var. naevius). The yellow-crowned night heron ( Nycticorax violaceus) inhabits the Southern States. Called also qua-bird, and squawk. — Night house, a public house, or inn, which is open at night. — Night key, a key for unfastening a night latch. — Night latch, a kind of latch for a door, which is operated from the outside by a key. - - Night monkey (Zoöl.), an owl monkey. — night moth (Zoöl.), any one of the noctuids. — Night parrot (Zoöl.), the kakapo. — Night piece, a painting representing some night scene, as a moonlight effect, or the like. — Night rail, a loose robe, or garment, worn either as a nightgown, or over the dress at night, or in sickness. [Obs.] — Night raven (Zoöl.), a bird of ill omen that cries in the night; esp., the bittern. — Night rule. (a) A tumult, or frolic, in the night; — as if a corruption, of night revel. [Obs.] (b) Such conduct as generally rules, or prevails, at night.
"What night rule now about this haunted grove?" Shak. — Night sight. (Med.) See Nyctolopia. — Night snap, a night thief. [Cant] Beau. & Fl. — Night soil, human excrement; — so called because in cities it is collected by night and carried away for manure. — Night spell, a charm against accidents at night. — Night swallow (Zoöl.), the nightjar. — Night walk, a walk in the evening or night. — Night walker. (a) One who walks in his sleep; a somnambulist; a noctambulist. (b) One who roves about in the night for evil purposes; specifically, a prostitute who walks the streets. — Night walking. (a) Walking in one’s sleep; somnambulism; noctambulism. (b) Walking the streets at night with evil designs. — Night warbler (Zoöl.), the sedge warbler ( Acrocephalus phragmitis); — called also night singer. [prov. Eng.] — Night watch. (a) A period in the night, as distinguished by the change of watch. (b) A watch, or guard, to aford protection in the night. — Night watcher, one who watches in the night; especially, one who watches with evil designs. — Night witch. Same as Night hag, above.
Night-blooming
Night´-bloom•ing, a. Blooming in the night. Night-blooming cereus. (Bot.) See Note under Cereus.
Nighted
Night´ed, a.
1. Darkness; clouded. [R.] Shak.
2. Overtaken by night; belated. Beau. & Fl.
Nightertale
Night´er•tale, n. [Cf. Icel. nattarpel.] period of night; nighttime. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Night-faring
Night´-far•ing, a. Going or traveling in the night. Gay.
Nightgown
Night´gown, n. A loose gown used for undress; also a gown used for a sleeping garment.
Nightingale
Night´in•gale, n. [OE. nihtegale, nightingale, AS. nihtegale; niht night + galan to sing, akin to E. yell; cf. D. nachtegaal, OS. nahtigala, OHG. nahtigala, G. nachtigall, Sw. näktergal, Dan. nattergal. See Night, and Yell.]
1. (Zoöl.) A small, plain, brown and gray European song bird ( Luscinia luscinia). It sings at night, and is celebrated for the sweetness of its song.
2. (Zoöl.) A larger species ( Lucinia philomela), of Eastern Europe, having similar habits; the thrush nightingale. The name is also applied to other allied species. Mock nightingale. (Zoöl.) See Blackcap, n. , 1 (a).
Nightjar
Night´jar, n. A goatsucker, esp. the European species. See Illust. of Goatsucker.
Nightman
Night´man, n. ; pl. Nightmen . One whose business is emptying privies by night.
Nightmare
Night´mare, n. [ Night + mare incubus. See Mare incubus.]
1. A fiend or incubus formerly supposed to cause trouble in sleep.
2. A condition in sleep usually caused by improper eating or by digestive or nervous troubles, and characterized by a sense of extreme uneasiness or discomfort (as of weight on the chest or stomach, impossibility of motion or speech, etc.), or by frightful or oppressive dreams, from which one wakes after extreme anxiety, in a troubled state of mind; incubus. Dunglison.
3. Hence, any overwhelming, oppressive, or stupefying influence.
Nightshade
Night´shade, n. [AS. nichtscadu.] (Bot.) A common name of many species of the genus Solanum, given esp. to the Solanum nigrum, or black nightshade, a low, branching weed with small white flowers and black berries reputed to be poisonous. Deadly nightshade. Same as Belladonna (a). — Enchanter’s nightshade. See under Enchanter. — Stinking nightshade. See Henbane. - - Three-leaved nightshade. See Trillium.
Nighttime
Night´time, n. The time from dusk to dawn; — opposed to daytime.
Nigrescent
Ni•gres´cent, a. [L. nigrescens, p. pr. of nigrescere to grow black, fr. niger black. See Negro.] Growing black; changing to a black color; approaching to blackness. Johnson.
Nigrification
Nig•ri•fi•ca´tion, n. [L. nigrificare to blacken; niger black + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.] The act or process of making black. [R.] Johnson.
Nigrine
Ni´grine, n. [L. niger black: cf. F. nigrine.] (Min.) A ferruginous variety of rutile.
Nigritude
Nig´ri•tude, n. [L. nigritudo, fr. niger black.] Blackness; the state of being black. Lamb.
Nihil
Ni´hil, n. [L.] Nothing. Nihil album [L., white nothing] (Chem.), oxide of zinc. See under Zinc. — Nihil debet [L., he owes nothing] (Law), the general issue in certain actions of debt. — Nihil dicit [L., he says nothing] (Law), a declinature by the defendant to plead or answer. Tomlins.
Nihilism
Ni´hil•ism, n. [L. nihil nothing: cf. F. nihilisme. See Annihilate.]
1. Nothingness; nihility.
2. The doctrine that nothing can be known; scepticism as to all knowledge and all reality.
3. (Politics) The theories and practices of the Nihilists.
Nihilist
Ni´hil•ist, n. [Cf. F. nihiliste. See Nihilism.]
1. One who advocates the doctrine of nihilism; one who believes or teaches that nothing can be known, or asserted to exist.
2. (Politics) A member of a secret association (esp. in Russia), which is devoted to the destruction of the present political, religious, and social institutions.
Nihilistic
Ni•hil•is´tic, a. Of, pertaining to, or characterized by, nihilism.
Nihility
Ni•hil´i•ty, n. [Cf. F. nihilite. See Nihilism.] Nothingness; a state of being nothing.
Nile, n. [L. Nilus, Gr. .] The great river of Egypt. Nile bird. (Zoöl.) (a) The wryneck. [Prov. Eng.] (b) The crocodile bird. — Nile goose (Zoöl.), the Egyptian goose. See Note under Goose, 2.
Nill, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nilled p. pr. & vb. n. Nilling.] [AS. nilan, nyllan; n. not + willan to will. See No, and Will.] Not to will; to refuse; to reject. [Obs.]
"Certes, said he, I nill thine offered grace." Spenser.
Nill, n. [Cf. Ir. & Gael. neul star, light. Cf. Nebula.]
1. Shining sparks thrown off from melted brass.
2. Scales of hot iron from the forge. Knight.
Niloscope
Ni´lo•scope, n. [Gr. ; the Nile + to observe.] A Nilometer.
Nim, v. t. [ imp. Nam or Nimmed ; p. p. Nomen or Nome .] [AS. niman. rad. 7. Cf. Nimble.] To take; to steal; to filch. [Obs.]
"This canon it in his hand nam." Chaucer.
Nimble
Nim´ble, a. [ Compar. Nimbler superl. Nimblest ] [OE. nimel, prob. orig., quick at seizing, fr. nimen to take, AS. niman; akin to D. nemen, G. nehmen, OHG. neman, Icel. nema, Goth. nima, and prob. to Gr. to distribute. rad. 7. Cf. Nomand, Numb.] Light and quick in motion; moving with ease and celerity; lively; swift.
"Through the mid seas the nimble pinnace sails." Pope. Nimble is sometimes used in the formation of self- explaining compounds; as nimble-footed, nimble- pinioned, nimble-winged, etc. Nimble Will (Bot.), a slender, branching, American grass ( Muhlenbergia diffusa), of some repute for grazing purposes in the Mississippi valley.
Syn. — Agile; quick; active; brisk; lively; prompt.
Nimbly
Nim´bly, adv. In a nimble manner; with agility; with light, quick motion.
Nimbose
Nim•bose´, a. [L. nimbosus, fr. nimbus cloud.] Cloudy; stormy; tempestuous.
Nimbus
Nim´bus, n. ; pl. L. Nimbi (#), E. Nimbuses (#). [L., a rain storm, a rain cloud, the cloudshaped which enveloped the gods when they appeared on earth.]
1. (Fine Arts) A circle, or disk, or any indication of radiant light around the heads of divinities, saints, and sovereigns, upon medals, pictures, etc.; a halo. See Aureola, and Glory, n. , 5. "The nimbus is of pagan origin." "As an atribute of power, the nimbus is often seen attached to the heads of evil spirits." Fairholl.
2. (Meteor.) A rain cloud; one of the four principal varieties of clouds. See Cloud.
Nimious
Nim´i•ous, a. [L. nimius.] Excessive; extravagant; inordinate. [Obs.]
Nimmer
Nim´mer, n. [From Nim.] A thief. [Obs.]
Nine, a. [OE. nine, nihen, AS. nigon, nigan; akin to D. & LG. negen, OS. & OFries. nigun, OHG. niun, G. neun, Icel. niu, sw. nio, Dan. n. , Goth. niun, Ir. & Gael. naoi, W. naw, L. novem, Gr., Skr. navan; of unknown origin. rad.307. Cf. Novembeer.] Eight and one more; one less than ten; as nine miles. Nine men’s morris. See Morris. - - Nine points circle (Geom.), a circle so related to any given triangle as to pass through the three points in which the perpendiculars from the angles of the triangle upon the opposite sides (or the sides produced) meet the sides. It also passes through the three middle points of the sides of the triangle and through the three middle points of those parts of the perpendiculars that are between their common point of meeting and the angles of the triangle. The circle is hence called the nine points or six points circle.
Nineteen
Nine´teen, a. [AS. nigontne, nigontne. See Nine, and Ten.] Nine and ten; eighteen and one more; one less than twenty; as nineteen months.
Ninety
Nine´ty, a. [See Nine, and cf. Forty.] Nine times ten; eighty-nine and one more; as ninety men.
Ninnyhammer
Nin´ny•ham•mer, n. A simpleton; a silly person. [Colloq.] Addison.
Ninth, a. [From Nine; cf. AS. nigoða.]
1. Following the eight and preceding the tenth; coming after eight others.
2. Constituting or being one of nine equal parts into which anything is divided.
Niobate
Ni´o•bate, n. [See Niobium.] (Chem.) Same as Columbate.
Niobium
Ni•o´bi•um, n. [NL., fr. L. & E. Niobe.] (Chem.) A later name of columbium. See Columbium.
Nip, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nipped, less properly Nipt; p. pr. & vb. n. Nipping ] [OE. nipen; cf. D. niipen to pinch, also knippen to nip, clip, pinch, snap, knijpen to pinch, LG. knipen, G. kneipen, kneifen, to pinch, cut off, nip, Lith. knebti.]
1. To catch and inclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.
"May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell,
Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat,
If I be such a traitress." Tennyson.
2. To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.
"The small shoots … must be nipped off." Mortimer.
3. Hence: To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.
4. To vex or pain, as by nipping; hence, to taunt.
"And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip." Spenser. To nip in the bud, to cut off at the verycommencement of growth; to kill in the incipient stage.
Nipperkin
Nip´per•kin, n. [See 1st Nip.] A small cup. [Obs.]
Nippers
Nip´pers, n. pl. [From 2d Nip.]
1. Small pinchers for holding, breaking, or cutting.
2. (Mach.) A device with fingers or jaws for seizing an object and holding or conveying it; as in a printing press, a clasp for catching a sheet and conveying it to the form.
3. (Naut.) A number of rope-yarns wound together, used to secure a cable to the messenger.
Nipping
Nip´ping, a. Biting; pinching; painful; destructive; as a nipping frost; a nipping wind.
Nippitate
Nip´pi•tate, a. [Cf. 1st Nip.] Peculiary strong and good; — said of ale or liquor. [Old Cant]
"’T will make a cup of wine taste nippitate." Chapman.
Nippitato
Nip•pi•ta´to, n. Strong liquor. [Old Cant] Beau. & Fl.
Nipple
Nip´ple, n. [Formerly neble, a dim. of neb. See Neb, Nib.]
1. (Anat.) The protuberance through which milk is drawn from the breast or mamma; the mammilla; a teat; a pap.
2. The orifice at which any animal liquid, as the oil from an oil bag, is discharged. [R.] Derham.
3. Any small projection or article in which there is an orifice for discharging a fluid, or for other purposes; as the nipple of a nursing bottle; the nipple of a percussion lock, or that part on which the cap is put and through which the fire passes to the charge.
4. (Mech.) A pipe fitting, consisting of a short piece of pipe, usually provided with a screw thread at each end, for connecting two other fittings. Solder nipple, a short pipe, usually of brass, one end of which is tapered and adapted for attachment to the end of a lead pipe by soldering.
Nirvana
Nir•va´na, n. [Skr. nirvana.] In the Buddhist system of religion, the final emancipation of the soul from transmigration, and consequently a beatific enfrachisement from the evils of worldly existence, as by annihilation or absorption into the divine. See Buddhism.
Nisan
Ni´san, n. [Heb. nisan.] The first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, formerly answering nearly to the month of April, now to March, of the Christian calendar. See Abib.
Nisi
Ni´si, conj. [L.] Unless; if not. In legal proceedings, this word is used to indicate that any order, etc., shall take effect at a given time, unless before that time the order, etc., in modified, or something else is done to prevent its taking effect. Continuance nisi is a conditional continuance of the case till the next term of the court, unless otherwise disposed of in the mean time. Nisi prius (Law), unless before; — a phrase applied to terms of court, held generally by a single judge, with a jury, for the trial of civil causes. The term originated in a legal fiction. An issue of fact being made up, it is, according to the English practice, appointed by the entry on the record, or written proceedings, to be tried by a jury from the county of which the proceedings are dated, at Westminster, unless before the day appointed ( nisi prius) the judges shall have come to the county in question (which they always do) and there try the cause. See In banc, under Banc.
Niste
Nis´te [Contr. from ne wiste.] Wist not; knew not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nitency
Ni´ten•cy, n. [L. nitens, p. pr. of nitere to shine.] Brightness; luster. [R.]
Nitency
Ni´ten•cy, n. [From L. nitens, p. pr. of niti to strive.] Endeavor; effort; tendency. [R.] Boyle. { Ni´ter, Ni´tre }, n. [F. nitre, L. nitrum native soda, natron, Gr. ; cf. Ar. nitun, natrun natron. Cf. Natron.]
1. (Chem.) A white crystalline semitransparent salt; potassium nitrate; saltpeter. See Saltpeter.
2. (Chem.) Native sodium carbonate; natron. [Obs.]
"For though thou wash thee with niter, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me." Jer. ii. 22.Cubic niter, a deliquescent salt, sodium nitrate, found as a native incrustation, like niter, in Peru and Chili, whence it is known also as Chili saltpeter. — Niter bush (Bot.), a genus ( Nitraria) of thorny shrubs bearing edible berries, and growing in the saline plains of Asia and Northern Africa.
Nitid
Nit´id, a. [L. nitidus, fr. nitere. See 3d Neat.]
1. Bright; lustrous; shining. [R.] Boyle.
2. Gay; spruce; fine; — said of persons. [R.] T. Reeve.
Nitriary
Ni´tri•a•ry, n. [See Niter.] An artificial bed of animal matter for the manufacture of niter by nitrification. See Nitrification, 2.
Nitric
Ni´tric, a. [Cf. F. nitrique. See Niter.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or containing, nitrogen; specifically, designating any one of those compounds in which, as contrasted with nitrous compounds, the element has a higher valence; as nitric oxide; nitric acid. Nitric acid, a colorless or yellowish liquid obtained by distilling a nitrate with sulphuric acid. It is powerfully corrosive, being a strong acid, and in decomposition a strong oxidizer. — Nitric anhydride, a white crystalline oxide of nitrogen (N2O5), called nitric pentoxide, and regarded as the anhydride of nitric acid. — Nitric oxide, a colorless poisous gas (NO) obtained by treating nitric acid with copper. On contact with the air or with oxygen, it becomes reddish brown from the formation of nitric dioxide or peroxide.
Nitride
Ni´tride, n. [fromNitrogen.] (Chem.) A binary compound of nitrogen with a more metallic element or radical; as boric nitride.
Nitriferous
Ni•trif´er•ous, a. [ Niter + -ferous.] Bearing niter; yielding, or containing, niter.
Nitrification
Ni•tri•fi•ca´tion, n. [Cf. F. nitrification. see Nitrify.]
1. (Chem.) (a) The act, process, or result of combining with nitrogen or some of its compounds. (b) The act or process of oxidizing nitrogen or its compounds so as to form nitrous or nitric acid.
2. A process of oxidation, in which nitrogenous vegetable and animal matter in the presence of air, moisture, and some basic substances, as lime or alkali carbonate, is converted into nitrates. The process is going on at all times in porous soils and in water contaminated with nitrogenous matter, and is supposed to be due to the presence of an organized ferment or ferments, called nitrification ferments. In former times the process was extensively made use of in the production of saltpeter.
Nitrifier
Ni´tri•fi•er, n. (Chem.) An agent employed in nitrification.
Nitrify
Ni´tri•fy, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nitrified p. pr. & vb. n. Nitrifying ] [ Niter + -fy: cf. F. nitrifer. See Niter.] (Chem.) To combine or impregnate with nitrogen; to convert, by oxidation, into nitrous or nitric acid; to subject to, or produce by, nitrification.
Nitrile
Ni´trile, n. [See Nitro- .] (Chem.) Any one of a series of cyanogen compounds; particularly, one of those cyanides of alcohol radicals which, by boiling with acids or alkalies, produce a carboxyl acid, with the elimination of the nitrogen as ammonia. The nitriles are named with reference to the acids produced by their decomposition, thus, hydrocyanic acid is formic nitrile, and methyl cyanide is acetic nitrile.
Nitrite
Ni´trite, n. [Cf. F. nitrite. See Niter.] (Chem.) A salt of nitrous acid. Amyl nitrite, a yellow oily volatile liquid, used in medicine as a depressant and a vaso-dilator. Its inhalation produces an instantaneous flushing of the face.
Nitrobenzene
Ni•tro•ben´zene, n. [ Nitro- + benzene.] (Chem.) A yellow aromatic liquid (C6H5.NO2), produced by the action of nitric acid on benzene, and called from its odor imitation oil of bitter almonds, or essence of mirbane. It is used in perfumery, and is manufactured in large quantities in the preparation of aniline. Fornerly called also nitrobenzol. { Ni•tro•ben´zol, Ni•tro•ben´zole, ( or ) }, n. See Nitrobenzene.
Nitrocarbol
Ni•tro•car´bol, n. [ Nitro- + carbon + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.) See Nitromethane.
Nitrocellulose
Ni•tro•cel´lu•lose, n. [ Nitro- + cellulose.] (Chem.) See Gun cotton, under Gun.
Nitro-chloroform
Ni•tro-chlo´ro•form, n. [ Nitro- + chloroform.] (Chem.) Same as Chlorpicrin.
Nitrogen
Ni•tro•gen, n. [L. nitrum natron + -gen: cf. F. nitrogène. See Niter.] (Chem.) A colorless nonmetallic element, tasteless and odorless, comprising four fifths of the atmosphere by volume. It is chemically very inert in the free state, and as such is incapable of supporting life (hence the name azote still used by French chemists); but it forms many important compounds, as ammonia, nitric acid, the cyanides, etc, and is a constituent of all organized living tissues, animal or vegetable. Symbol N. Atomic weight 14. It was formerly regarded as a permanent noncondensible gas but was liquefied in 1877 by Cailletet of Paris, and Pictet of Geneva.
Nitrogenize
Ni´tro•gen•ize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nitrogenized p. pr. & vb. n. Nitrogenizing.] (Chem.) To combine, or impregnate, with nitrogen or its compounds.
Nitrogenous
Ni•trog´e•nous, a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, nitrogen; as a nitrogenous principle; nitrogenous compounds. Nitrogenous foods. See 2d Note under Food, n. , 1.
Nitroleum
Ni•tro´le•um, n. [NL., fr. L. nitrum natron + oleum oil.] (Chem.) Nitroglycerin.
Nitrolic
Ni•trol´ic, a. (Chem.) Of, derived from, or designating, a nitrol; as a nitrolic acid.
Nitromuriatic
Ni•tro•mu•ri•at´ic, a. [Cf. F. nitromuriatique. See Nitro-, and Muriatic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or composed of, nitric acid and muriatic acid; nitrohydrochloric. See Nitrohydrochloric.
Nitrosylic
Ni•tro•syl´ic, a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or containing, nitrosyl; as nitrosylic acid.
Nitrous
Ni´trous, a. [L. nitrosus full of natron: cf. F. nitreux. See Niter.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or containing, niter; of the quality of niter, or resembling it.
2. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, any one of those compounds in which nitrogen has a relatively lower valence as contrasted with nitric compounds. Nitrous acid (Chem.), a hypothetical acid of nitrogen HNO2, not known in the free state, but forming a well known series of salts, viz., the nitrites. — Nitrous oxide. See Laughing gas.
Nitrum
Ni´trum, n. [L., natron. See Niter.] (Old Chem.) Niter. Nitrum flammans [L., flaming niter] (Old Chem.), ammonium nitrate; — probably so called because it deflagerates when suddenly heated.
Nitryl
Ni´tryl, n. [ Nitro- + - yl.] (Chem.) A name sometimes given to the nitro group or radical.
Nitter
Nit´ter, n. [From Nit.] (Zoöl.) The horse louse; an insect that deposits nits on horses.
Nittings
Nit´tings, n. pl. [Prob. from Nit.] (Mining) The refuse of good ore. Raymond.
Nitty
Nit´ty, a. Full of nits. B. Jonson.
Nitty
Nit´ty, a. [L. nitidus. See Nitid.] Shining; elegant; spruce. [Obs.] "O sweet, nitty youth." Marston.
Nival
Ni´val, a. [L. nivalis, fr. nix, nivis, snow.] Abounding with snow; snowy. [Obs.] Johnson.
Nivose
Ni•vose´, n. [F., fr. L. nix. nivis, snow.] The fourth month of the French republican calendar [1792-1806]. It commenced December 21, and ended January 19. See Vendemiaire.
Nix, n. ; fem. Nixe . [G. Cf. 1st Nick.] (Teut. Myth.) One of a class of water spirits, commonly described as of a mischievous disposition.
"The treacherous nixes who entice men to a watery death." Tylor.
Nizam
Ni•zam´, n. ; pl. Nizam. [Turk. nizam.] A regular soldier of the Turkish army. See Army organization, above.