Nailed. Slang for “caught,” in allusion to being pinned down by the captors. Also a thing seized and made off with; a punning reference to “driving” a nail.
Naked Possessor. The Far West description of the possessor of a piece of land for a long period without a legal title to it. He is the naked possessor because his title is not clothed in a set form of words recognised by the Courts of Law.
Nankeen. Cotton stuff originally made at Nankin, in China.
Nankin. Expresses the Chinese for “Southern Capital.”
Nanny Goats. The nickname of the 23rd Foot on account of their regimental pet goat.
Nantes. A native brandy exported from Nantes in Brittany. The name is the Celtic for “valley.”
Nap. A game of cards, originally named after Napoleon I.
Naples. Called by the Greeks Neapolis, “New City.” The ancient name is better expressed when speaking of the inhabitants as “Neapolitans.”
Napoleon. A gold coin of France issued during the Consulate of Napoleon Bonaparte. This superseded the “Louis d’Or.”
Narcissus. This flower is fabled to have sprung up on the spot where the beautiful Grecian youth so called died of love-sickness.
Naso. The nickname given to Ovid on account of the length of his nose; hence “Ovidius Naso.”
Nassau Street. After the royal House of Nassau, to which William III., as Prince of Orange, belonged.
Natal. So called because the Portuguese navigator Vasco di Gama landed upon its shores on Christmas Day, or the Feast of the Nativity, 1498.
Nation. An Americanism for “damnation.”
National Democrats. Those in the United States whose principles are national as opposed to sect or party.
Navvy. Originally the name of a labourer employed in the construction of canals for inland navigation. An alehouse set up beside one of the earliest canals bore the sign of the “Navigation Inn,” and those who frequented it were called Navigators. This term soon became shortened into Navvies.
Nazarenes. Semi-converted Jews who, while nominally Christians, believed “Jesus of Nazareth” to be the long-promised Messiah, and still conformed to the rites and ceremonies prescribed by the Jewish law.
Nebraska. Indian for “water valley.” This fertile region is traversed by several shallow rivers.
Neckerchief. A kerchief for the neck. See “Handkerchief.”
Neckwear. An American term for neckties, scarves, or mufflers.
Needle in a Bottle of Hay. See “Bottle of Hay.”
Needle’s Eye. The postern gate in the wall of an Eastern city, so called because with some difficulty a camel is able to thread its way through it.
Negus. Hot spiced wine, originally concocted by Colonel Negus in the reign of Queen Anne.
Nemesis. From the goddess of vengeance, who bore this name.
Nepaul Paper. India paper made in the district of Nepaul, Northern India. The original India paper came from the Far East.
Nest Egg. The nucleus of a banking account, so called because if a china egg be placed in a hen’s nest it is an inducement for her to lay eggs of her own there. When a person has a trifle put by he is anxious to increase it.
Nestorians. A sect of heretics of the fifth century under Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople.
Netherlands. Literally the Low Countries, now comprised in the kingdom of Holland.
Netop. Indian for “my friend.” In saluting a friendly Indian a white in North America always makes use of this word.
Nevada. Spanish for “snowy,” in allusion to the snow-clad mountain ridges of this state.
New Amsterdam. The name given by the Dutch settlers to their colony at the mouth of the Hudson River, now “New York.”
New Bond Street. See “Bond Street.”
New Bridge Street. Leads to Westminster Bridge, opened in 1862. This name was chosen in contradistinction to Bridge Street, Blackfriars.
New Brunswick. On assuming its independence of Nova Scotia in 1784 this British colony was named after the House of Brunswick.
New Burlington Street. See “Burlington Street.”
Newcastle-under-Lyme. The name of the river on which the town stands is the Lyne, not the Lyme. To take the place of an ancient castle at Chesterton-under-Lyne a new castle was built in this neighbourhood, but of such a stronghold no vestige now remains.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Originally Moncaster or Monkchester, so called from a colony of monks on the site of a Roman camp. Robert, Duke of Normandy, the son of William the Conqueror, built a castle here for the defence of the town against the incursions of the Scots. This castle was afterwards rebuilt by William II.; whereupon the town assumed the title of Newcastle.
New Cavendish Street. See “Cavendish Square.”
New Compton Street. See “Compton Street.”
New Christians. Portuguese Jews of the fifteenth century who, having embraced Christianity under compulsion, secretly conformed to the Mosaic rites and ceremonies.
New Cross. The district which grew up around an old coaching-house, “The Golden Cross,” afterwards rebuilt, and renamed “The New Cross.”
New England. The collective name given to the six eastern states of the American Union--Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut--because the people are descended from the Puritans of England and Scotland, and therefore may be regarded as the only true “Yankees.”
Newfoundland. The name bestowed by Sebastian Cabot upon all the new land that he discovered, but now confined to this British possession.
Newfoundland Dog. A native breed of dog from Newfoundland.
Newgate Street. From the newest of the city gates, first alluded to in history in 1207. The gateway having for centuries been used for the confinement of debtors, it gave its name to the prison erected on its south side. The gloomy edifice which has been demolished within the last few years dated from 1782, after the burning of its predecessor by the Gordon rioters in 1780.
New Hampshire. This state having been granted to Captain John Mason, he in 1629 named it after his native county in England.
New Holland. The name given to what is now Australia by its Dutch settlers in 1606 after their Mother Country.
Newington. Expresses the new settlement in the meadow.
Newington Butts. The site of the archery butts in South London corresponding to those of Moorfields in the north.
Newington Causeway. This was the first road or causeway across the swampy fields of South London beyond the “Borough.”
New Jersey. In honour of Sir George Cartaret, the gallant defender of Jersey Island against the Parliamentary forces in 1664.
Newman Street. After the builder on the site.
New Orleans. The name given to the French settlement in the New World after the city in the Mother Country.
New Pye Street. See “New Way.”
New Scotland Yard. The new headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, occupying a site which has not the slightest connection with its name, and devoid of all historic interest further than that its foundations were laid for a Metropolitan Opera House, the building of which went no further. With the transference of the Police Department from “Scotland Yard” the old name was retained.
New Southgate. The modern residential district in the vicinity of the entrance to the enclosed hunting ground extending northward to Enfield, anciently known as Enfield Chase.
New Spain. The name given by Cortes to “Mexico.”
News-stand. An Americanism for a railway bookstall.
New Way. A modern extension of Old and New Pye Streets, named after Sir Robert Pye, who had his residence on its site.
New Woman. A term which came into vogue during the early days of the modern bicycling craze. The New Woman disported herself abroad in knickerbockers, and generally made herself ridiculous in the eyes of all sensible men. Latterly she has returned to the obscurity whence she sprang.
New York. Originally New Amsterdam. When taken from the Dutch in 1664 it received the name it now bears in compliment to the Duke of York, afterwards James II.
New Zealand. Named by the Dutch after their native Zeeland, or “Sea-land,” of the Low Countries.
Niagara. From the Indian On-aw-garah, “the thunder of waters.”
Nicaragua. So called by Gil Gonzales de Avila in 1521, after a Haytian chief called Nicaro, who gave him a friendly reception on the shores of the lake, which also bears this name.
Nicholas Lane. After the wealthy banker, Sir Nicholas Throgmorton, who also gave his name to Throgmorton Street.
Nickel. An American five-cent piece, so called because it is coined out of nickel silver.
Nick of the Woods. The first word in this American designation is a corruption of “neck,” denoting a settlement or habitation in the wooded regions of the south-western states.
Nicotiana. The tobacco-producing regions of the United States. See “Nicotine.”
Nicotine. After Jean Nicot, who introduced tobacco, which he had purchased at Lisbon, into France in 1560.
Nigger. A corruption of Negro, which term is derived from the Latin niger, “black.”
Nightcap. Since everyone in the days of our grandfathers wore a nightcap, and fancied he could not go to sleep without one, so the modern substitute is a glass of spirits just before retiring, with a view to making him feel drowsy; hence such a drink is called a “nightcap.”
Nightingale. Literally a bird that sings in the night.
Nihilist. Originally a member of a Russian society whose members recognised no law save their own happiness. They sought to annihilate all ideas of God and government, as also of the rights of property. These ultra-Socialists sprang into existence in 1848.
Nimrod. Charles James Apperley, the sporting contributor to The Quarterly Review, and author of “The Chase, The Turf, and The Road,” adopted this pseudonym after Nimrod, the son of Cush, who is mentioned in Genesis x. 9 as the “mighty hunter before the Lord.”
Nincompoop. A dull-witted person, so called from the Latin phrase non compos mentis, “of unsound mind.”
Nine Days’ Wonder. Puppies and kittens remaining blind for nine days after birth, they are during this period a subject of much wonder to the young members of the household. A sensational event or a piece of public scandal arouses uncommon interest for a few days, and then it gradually subsides.
Nine Elms. From nine fine elm-trees on this portion of the south bank of the Thames.
Nine Tailors make a Man. The second word in this expression is a corruption of Tellers. A “Teller” was in olden times a stroke of the “passing bell” of the parish church. Three tellers gave warning of the death of a child, six of a woman, and nine of a man. As the parishioners counted the strokes they would say: “Nine tellers make a man.”
Ninny. Short for “Nincompoop.” In America this term is generally thought to be derived from “Pickaninny.”
Niphon. The native name of “Japan.”
Nipped in the Bud. While a flower is in the bud it may be destroyed by a mere nip of the fingers. Afterwards its leaves would have to be plucked separately. To curb mischief or a bad habit at the very commencement is therefore the easier plan.
Nipper. Originally in thieves’ slang a boy trained to pick purses and pockets, and nip off unobserved; hence the expression “A Young Nipper.”
Nitrate King. The sobriquet of the late Colonel J. T. North, who amassed a fortune by the nitrate industry in South America.
Nob. Short for “noble” or “nobleman.” From University slang the term has come to imply among the vulgar anyone of aristocratic pretensions.
Noctes Ambrosianæ. A characteristic feature of Blackwood’s Magazine in its early days. This, “The Ambrosial Nights,” was contributed as a regular series by Professor Wilson, being for the most part the actual conversations of the author, John Gibson Lockhart, and Mr Blackwood at a small Edinburgh tavern kept by one Ambrose. Although Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, also figured in those dialogues, he was not present at the meetings.
Nocturne. A quiet, dreamy species of musical composition, suggestive, as its name denotes, of peaceful night.
Noddy. A kind of jaunting car peculiar to Dublin, so called because its jolting motion makes its riders nod their heads.
No Flies on me. An Americanism expressive of individual energy. The meaning is: “I am so active that no flies can ever settle on me.”
No Hat Brigade. Modern faddists who walk abroad bare-headed and shelter themselves against the elements under an umbrella.
Nonconformists. Those ministers of the Church of England who refused to subscribe or conform to the “Act of Conformity,” and thereby lost their livings. The term is now generally applied to all Dissenting congregations.
No Quarter. When the battle cry of “No Quarter,” consequent on an order, goes forth, no lives are spared by the victors. To give quarter means to spare the vanquished. This had its origin in ancient European warfare, when, by way of earning prize-money, a soldier refrained from dealing the death blow to a fallen foe on condition of receiving a quarter of the latter’s pay.
Norfolk. The northern of the two districts or counties on the east coast settled by the Angles, the north folk and south folk respectively.
Norfolk Howards. An excess of refinement has caused this term to be substituted for bugs. This originated in the action of Joshua Bugg of the Swan Tavern, Norwich, who by deed poll, as advertised in The Times 26th June 1862, changed his name to Norfolk Howard. In America all beetles are commonly styled bugs.
Norfolk Street. From the town house and grounds of the Howards, Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Arundel and Surrey.
Norland Square. Built on the site of Norland House, the residence of one of the Drummonds, bankers of Charing Cross, temp. William IV.
Normandy. The country peopled by the Northmen or Danes.
Northampton. Anciently described as “Northavontown,” having been built on the north of the River Avon, now called the Nen.
North Audley Street. See “Audley Street.”
North Britain. Scotland. In conjunction with England and Wales it becomes Great Britain.
North Pole. A tavern sign in Wardour Street up at the time when Captain Parry’s Arctic Expedition was the common topic of interest.
North Star State. Minnesota, so called on account of its northern situation in the Union and the motto on its arms: “L’Etoile du Nord.”
Northumberland. The north-east portion of that vast tract of land described as “Northumbria,” because situated north of the River Humber under the Heptarchy.
Northumberland Alley. This name in Fenchurch Street is reminiscent of the original town house of the Dukes of Northumberland before they took up their residence at Charing Cross in 1607.
Northumberland Avenue. From Northumberland House, the town mansion of the Dukes of Northumberland, demolished in 1874 to make way for this fine broad thoroughfare.
Norton Folgate. A corruption of “Northern Falgate”; expressive of the fine barred gate leading from Bishopsgate without the city limits into the open fields.
Norway. Called in the native tongue Nordrike, “the north kingdom.” This country was long thought to be wholly surrounded by water, on which account it received the name of Nordee, “north island.” This the Saxons modified in Norea, and later Norway.
Norwich. So called from the castle erected by the East Anglian kings as a “North wic,” or northern fortified village, relative to Caistor, to resist the invasion of the Danes.
Norwood. This was formerly the northern portion of the vast wooded district situated between London and Croydon.
None of my Funeral. An American mode of saying “Nothing to do with me,” or “It’s no affair of mine.” Being an Americanism, the expression is devoid of etymology.
Nosey. The nickname borne by Cervetto, the violoncellist of Drury Lane Theatre, and John Wilson, the painter, both of whom had exceptionally long noses. The Duke of Wellington was also popularly referred to under this name by his soldiers on account of his Roman nose.
Nothing succeeds like Success. When a man is successful the world bows before him. Each fresh enterprise is crowned with success, because there is an abiding public faith in the man who has made money or hit the popular taste. His intrinsic merits may be no greater than those of the poor devil who has systematically failed; yet what he lacks himself he readily finds in his subordinates, whom he can afford to pay, while the credit is all his own.
Notions. An Americanism for small wares or trifles in regard to dress.
Not much. An Americanism for “of no consequence.”
Not quite the Cheese. A saying which originated with those who insisted on being served with prime Stilton or double Glo’ster.
Nottingham. Called by the Anglo-Saxons Snottengaham, “a place of caves.” The name is partly Celtic, and little doubt exists that the Britons made their habitations in the caverns with which this county abounds.
Nottingham Place. After the county estates of the Duke of Portland, the great ground landlord. A goodly portion of Sherwood Forest is included in this ducal possession.
Notting Hill. Properly “Knolton Barn Hill,” the ancient description of a manor of the De Veres, which in the time of Henry VIII. was held by Robert Fenroper, an alderman of the city of London.
Not worth a Dam. See “Don’t care a Dam.”
Not worth a Rap. A rap was an Irish copper coin issued early in the eighteenth century to supply a long-felt need for very small money. Nominally worth a halfpenny, its metal was so thin and base that it never passed for more than a farthing. Its infinitesimal value consequently gave rise to this expression.
Not worth a Song. A song is worth nothing at all after its popularity has waned. The good old songs live on account of their intrinsic merits, but they were not pushed into public favour by adventitious methods at the time of publication. Those of our day are ground out of street pianos and sung everywhere for a brief season, then heard no more.
Nova Scotia. This name, expressive of “New Scotland,” was bestowed upon the island by Sir William Alexander, a Scotsman, to whom James I. granted a charter of colonisation in 1621.
Nova Zembla. From the Slavonic Nowaja Zemlja, “new land.”
November. From novem, nine, the ninth month of the Roman calendar when the year commenced with March.
Noyau. Expresses the French for the stone or nut of a fruit; hence the name given to a cordial flavoured with the kernel of the bitter almond or peach stone.
Nun. From the Italian nonna, a grandmother. Those who retired into convents originally were aged women. It was only in modern times that seminaries for girls were established in convents; this opened the way to maidens becoming deeply imbued with religious ideas and secluding themselves from the world by taking the veil.
Nunhead. From a tea garden and holiday resort known to Londoners as “The Nun’s Head” ever since the days of James I.
Nutcrackers. The 3rd Foot, so called because they boasted of having broken the heads of the Polish Lancers at the battle of Albuera.
Nutcrack Night. Another name for All Hallows’ Eve, when nuts are laid on the fire bars to crack, as a relic of an ancient kind of divination.
Nutmeg State. Connecticut, whose people were believed to manufacture wooden nutmegs for exportation.
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