“White man eat [or steal] the crab,
And the crab eats the white man.”
NINCOMPOOP, a fool, a hen pecked husband, a “Jerry Sneak.”—Corruption
of _non compos mentis_.
NINE CORNS, a pipeful of tobacco.
NINES, “dressed up to the NINES,” in a showy or _recherché_ manner.
NINEPENCE, “right as NINEPENCE,” all right, right to a nicety.
NIP, to steal, take up quickly.
NIPPER, a small boy. _Old cant_ for a _boy_ cut-purse.
NIX, nothing, “NIX my doll,” synonymous with NIX. _German_, NICHTS,
nothing.—_See_ MUNGARLY.
NIX! the signal word of school boys to each other that the master, or
other person in authority, is approaching.
NIZZIE, a fool, a coxcomb.—_Old cant, vide Triumph of Wit_.
NOAH’S ARK, a long closely buttoned overcoat, recently in fashion. So
named by _Punch_ from the similarity which it exhibits to the figure of
Noah and his sons in children’s toy arks.
NOB, the head—_Pugilistic_; “BOB A NOB,” a shilling a head. _Ancient
cant_, NEB. NOB is an early English word, and is used in the Romance of
Kynge Alisaunder (thirteenth century) for a head; originally, no doubt,
the same as _knob_.
NOB, a person of high position, a “swell,” a _nob_leman,—of which word
it may be an abbreviation.—_See_ SNOB.
NOBBA, nine. _Italian_, NOVE; _Spanish_, NOVA,—the _b_ and _v_ being
interchangeable, as Se_b_astópol and Se_v_astópol.
NOBBA SALTEE, ninepence. _Lingua Franca_, NOVE SOLDI.
NOBBING, collecting money; “what NOBBINGS?” _i.e._, how much have you
got?
NOBBLE, to cheat, to overreach; to discover.
NOBBLERS, confederates of thimble-rigs, who play earnestly as if
strangers to the “RIG,” and thus draw unsuspecting persons into a game.
NOBBY, or NOBBISH, fine or showy; NOBBILY, showily.—_See_ SNOB for
derivation.
NOMMUS, be off.—_See_ NAMUS.
NO ODDS, no matter, of no consequence.—_Latimer’s sermon before Edward
VI._
NOSE, a thief who turns informer, or Queen’s evidence; a spy or watch;
“on the NOSE,” on the look out.
NOSE, “to pay through the NOSE,” to pay an extravagant price.
NOSE-BAGS, visitors at watering places, and houses of refreshment, who
carry their own victuals.—_Term applied by waiters._
NOSE EM, or FOGUS, tobacco.