Noc*tid"i*al (?), a. [L. nox, noctos, night + dies day.] Comprising a
night and a day; a noctidial day. [R.] Holder.
Noc*tif"er*ous (?), a. [L. noctifer; nox, noctis + ferre to bring.]
Bringing night. [Obs.] Johnson.
Noc*til"i*o*nid (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.) A South American
bat of the genus Noctilio, having cheek pouches and large incisor
teeth.
||Noc`ti*lu"ca (?), n.; pl. NoctilucÆ (#). [L. noctiluca something that
||shines by night, fr. nox, noctis, night + lucere to shine, lux
||light.] 1. (Old Chem.) That which shines at night; -- a fanciful name
||for phosphorus.
2. (Zoöl.) A genus of marine flagellate Infusoria, remarkable for their
unusually large size and complex structure, as well as for their
phosphorescence. The brilliant diffuse phosphorescence of the sea is
often due to myriads of Noctilucæ.
Noc*ti*lu"cin (?), n. (Zoöl.) A fatlike substance in certain marine
animals, to which they owe their phosphorescent properties.
Noc`ti*lu"cine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to Noctiluca.
Noc`ti*lu"cous (?), a. Shining in the night.
Noc*tiv"a*gant (?), a. [L. nox, noctis, night + vagans, p. pr. of
vagari to wander about.] (Zoöl.) Going about in the night;
night-wandering.
Noc*tiv`a*ga"tion (?), n. A roving or going about in the night. Gayton.
Noc*tiv"a*gous (?), a. [L. noctivagus; nox, noctis + vagus wandering.]
Noctivagant.
Noc"to*graph (?), n. [L. nox, noctis, night + -graph.] 1. A kind of
writing frame for the blind.
2. An instrument or register which records the presence of watchmen on
their beats. Knight.
Noc"tu*a*ry (?; 135), n. [L. noctu by night.] A record of what passes
in the night; a nightly journal; -- distinguished from diary. [R.]
Addison.
Noc"tu*id (?), n. [From L. nox, noctis, night.] (Zoöl.) Any one of
numerous moths of the family Noctuidæ, or Noctuælitæ, as the cutworm
moths, and armyworm moths; -- so called because they fly at night. --
a. Of or pertaining to the noctuids, or family Noctuidæ.
Noc"tule (?; 135), n. [F., fr. L. noctua a night owl, fr. nox, noctis,
night.] (Zoöl.) A large European bat (Vespertilio, or Noctulina,
altivolans).
Noc"turn (?), n. [F. nocturne, fr. L. nocturnus. See Nocturnal, and cf.
Nocturne.] 1. An office of devotion, or act of religious service, by
night.
2. One of the portions into which the Psalter was divided, each
consisting of nine psalms, designed to be used at a night service.
Hook.
Noc*tur"nal (?), a. [L. nocturnalis, nocturnus, fr. nox, noctis, night.
See Night, and cf. Nocturn.] 1. Of, pertaining to, done or occuring in,
the night; as, nocturnal darkness, cries, expedition, etc.; -- opposed
to diurnal. Dryden.
2. Having a habit of seeking food or moving about at night; as,
nocturnal birds and insects.
Noc*tur"nal, n. An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of
the stars, etc., at sea. I. Watts.
Noc*tur"nal*ly, adv. By night; nightly.
Noc*turne" (?), n. [F. See Nocturn.] (Mus.) A night piece, or serenade.
The name is now used for a certain graceful and expressive form of
instrumental composition, as the nocturne for orchestra in Mendelsohn's
"Midsummer-Night's Dream" music.
Noc"u*ment (?), n. [LL. nocumentum, fr. L. nocere to hurt.] Harm;
injury; detriment. [Obs.]
Noc"u*ous (?), a. [L. nocuus, fr. nocere to hurt.] Hurtful; noxious.
[R.] -- Noc"u*ous*ly, adv. [R.]
Nod (?), v. i. [OE. nodden; cf. OHG. kn&?;t&?;n, genuot&?;n, to shake,
and E. nudge.] 1. To bend or incline the upper part, with a quick
motion; as, nodding plumes.
2. To incline the head with a quick motion; to make a slight bow; to
make a motion of assent, of salutation, or of drowsiness, with the
head; as, to nod at one.