"Nn" in Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English doc

Rhyming slangUK, 1960 National Frontnounan unpleasant or despicable person.. Rhyming slang forCUNT, formed on a political organisation of the extreme right; a neat punUK, 1992 national g

’n’conjunctionand An abbreviation; notably (since 1955) inROCK ’N’

ROLL US , 1858

NAAFI; Naafinouna military organisation that operates shops and

canteens for military personnel; any shop or canteen within that

organisation Acronym of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes UK,

1921

naavonouna secret hiding placeIRELAND, 1999

nabnounthe police; a police officerUK, 1813

nabverb1to catch, to arrestUK, 1686.2to snatch or steal something

UK, 1665

nabbernouna police officerUS, 1837

nabenoun1a neighbourhood cinemaUS, 1935.2a tavernUS, 1950

naches; nakhesnounproud pleasure Yiddish from the Hebrew for

‘contentment’US, 1968

nacknoun< in the nacknakedUK, 2002

nadanounnothing; none From the Spanish, used by English

speakers who do not understand Spanish, often heard in the

1980s advertising phrase ‘Nothing – nada – zilch’ Recorded in

UK gay currencyUS, 1914

nad alert; gonad alertnounused as a warning in a hospital that

an x-ray is about to be takenUS, 1994

nada to vada in the larderrefering to a man’s genitals, less than

averagely endowed Polari; a clever combination ofNADA(nothing)

andVADA(to see) with a conventional location where meat is

storedUK, 2002

nadgernounin horse racing, a horse’s nose or headAUSTRALIA, 1989

nadgersnounthe testicles Possibly deriving from ‘gonads’, and with

a similarity toKNACKERS, ‘nadgers’ was an all-purpose nonsense

word used by the radio comedy series The Goon Show during the

1950sUK, 1998

nadsnounthe testicles From ‘gonads’US, 1964

naffadjectivevulgar, bad, unlovely, despicable; generally

contemptible; when used in gay society it may mean

heterosex-ual Theatrical andCAMPorigins but the actual derivation is

disputed; possibly an acronym for ‘not available for fucking’, ‘not a

fuck’ or ‘normal as fuck’; or a play on the military acronym NAAFI

(Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) as ‘no ambition and fuck-all

interest’; otherwise it may originate as back slang forFANNY(the

vagina or the buttocks), a shortening of ‘nawfuckingood’ or in the

French phrase rien à faire (nothing to do) UK, 1965

naffused as a euphemism for ‘fuck’ (in all senses except sexual

intercourse/to have sex)UK, 1977

naffette; naffeenadjectivevulgar, bad, despicable, unlovely Polari;

CAMPvariations ofNAFF UK , 1992

naffingadjectiveused as a euphemism for ‘fucking’ Extended from

NAFF UK , 1959

naff it upverbto spoil somethingUK, 1981

naff offverbto go away FromNAFF; made very familiar in the UK

during the 1970s by the prison-set television situation comedy,

Porridge, written by Clement and La Frenais Perhaps the social

highpoint of this word’s history was during the 1982 Badminton

Horse Trials when Princess Anne (now Princess Royal) asked the

press, ‘Why don’t you just naff off ?’UK, 1982

nagwarenounfree computer software that frequently asks the user

to send a voluntary payment for further useUS, 1995

nahemphatically no A variation of pronunciationUS, 1971

nailnoun1a hypodermic needleUS, 1936.2a marijuana cigarette

Possibly another ‘nail in your coffin’US, 1978.< on the nail(of a

payment) promptly

nailverb1to apprehend; to arrestUK, 1732.2to killUK, 1824.3to have sexUS, 1957.4to get right, to masterUS, 1989.5(of a wave) to knock

a surfer from the surfboard Always in the passive voiceUS, 1977.

< nail someone’s bollocks to the doorto physically beat up,

to figuratively neuter and mentally defeatUK, 1998.< nail the

corein the language of hang gliding, to find the centre of a thermal and ride it upUS, 1992

nailedadjectivederangedUS, 1836

nail-em-and-jail-emnouna police officerUS, 1980

nailernouna police officerUS, 1973

nail nickernounin gambling, a cheat who marks cards by nicking them with his fingernailsUS, 1997

nailsnouna disappointment; a failure Hawaiian youth usageUS, 1981

nakedadjective(used of a truck) driving without a trailerUS, 1976

Naked FannynicknameNakhon Phanon, Thailand Vietnam war humourUS, 1967

NamnicknameVietnam Often used with ‘the’ Originally military, then widespread, and now slightly archUS, 1962

namby-pambynounan effeminate maleUS, 1968

namenoun1an important or famous personUS, 1975.2a known criminalUK, 1984.3a popular, high-profile professional wrestlerUS,

1995.< have your name on itto be meant for you Originally military, applied to a bullet (or similar) that was destined to hit a particular person; later use is far more general, being used, for instance, when a house-hunter finds the perfect property or, more trivially, of a drinkUK, 1917.< no names – no pack drillthe guilty party (or parties) will not be named and, therefore, cannot

be punished Originally used of, or by, army lower-ranks; now general useUK, 1923

nan; nana; nannie; nannynouna grandmother, especially as a form of addressUK, 1940

nananoun1a bananaUS, 1929.2the headNEW ZEALAND, 1998.< do

your nanato lose control; to get angryAUSTRALIA, 1968.< off your

nanacrazy, insaneAUSTRALIA, 1966

nancenounan effeminate male or homosexual DisparagingUS, 1910

nanceverbto behave in an exaggeratedly feminine fashionUS, 1968

nancyadjectiveeffeminate; homosexualUK, 1937

nancy boynounan effeminate or homosexual man; the former may

be construed to be the latterUK, 1904

Nancy Leenountea Rhyming slangUK, 1960

nancy storynounan elaborate fabrication From a traditional Caribbean folktale about AnancyTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1858

nan flapnouna pendulous spread of flabby upper arm that is characteristic of some older womenUK, 2004

nangadjectiveexcellent Used by urban black youthsUK, 2004

nannaadjectiveawfulUK, 2002

nannie; nannynouna black woman, also as a term of address Offensive and demeaningSOUTH AFRICA, 1956 8see:NAN

nannynouna prostitute who will, by arrangement, dress and treat a client as an infantUK, 2003

nanny goat; nannynoun1the Horserace Totaliser Board Rhyming slang The Tote was created by Act of Parliament in 1928 as ‘an independent body with a monopoly of horse-race pool betting’; the legislation to allow the Tote to operate as an on-course bookmaker was not in force until 1972UK, 1960.2a coat Rhyming slangUK, 1971.3the throat Rhyming slangUK, 1992.4a boat Rhyming slangUK, 1989.< get your nanny goat; get your

nannyto annoy you A variation of

nanny whammingnounin rodeo, the joke event of goat tying

CANADA, 1987

nanonouna very short period of time An abbreviation of

‘nanosecond’, used figurativelyUS, 1991

nanoonounheroinUK, 1998

Nanooknouna polar bear The word comes from EskimoCANADA,

1963

nante; nantee; nanti; nantyno; nothing, none; stop, shut up!;

not Polari, from Italian niente (nothing, anything) Recorded in

contemporary gay useUK, 1851

nante pile on the carpetadjectivebaldUK, 1992

nante pots in the cupboardadjectivetoothlessUK, 1992

nanti polari!; nanti panarly!; nantee palaver!; nanti parlaree!

be quiet!, don’t talk! Imperative; literally, ‘no talk’UK, 2002

nanti that!stop it!, don’t do that! ImperativeUK, 2002

nantoise; nantois; nantoisaleno; nothing; none A variation of

NANTE UK , 1997

nantsno; nothing; none A variation ofNANTE UK , 1950

nanty worsteradjectivebeing no worseUK, 2002

napnoun1the short, curly hair of a black personUS, 1969.2the hair;

your hairstyleUS, 1996.3in horse racing, a tipster’s best betUK, 1991.

4a good bet, a sure thing From the racing useUK, 2001

napenounnapalm, a mixture of petrol and a thickening agent for

use in flame throwers or incendiary bombs, used extensively by

the US during World War 2 and later warsUS, 1968

nappernounthe headUK, 1724

napper-wrappernouna turban Based onNAPPER(the head)UK, 1998

nappsnounmorphine sulphate tablets used to treat cancer patients

IRELAND, 1996

nappyadjectiveof hair, usually of the hair of a black person, naturally

tightly curled, frizzy Often derogatoryUS, 1885

nappy dugoutnoun(of a black woman) the vagina The imagery of

‘dugout’ is twofold: literally ‘a trench’, and, in baseball, the

enclosure in which a batsman prepares to play; combined with

NAPPYwhich typically describes black hairUS, 1998

nap trapnouna roadside rest areaUS, 1976

naradjectivetreacherous An abbreviation ofGNARLY US , 1988

narc; narknoun1an undercover narcotics officerUS, 1967.2a social

outcastUS, 2001

narc ark; nark arknounan undercover narcotic officer’s carUS, 1973

narconoun1narcoticsUS, 1954.2a narcotics detectiveUS, 1955.3any

person involved in the manufacture or distribution of drugs An

abbreviation of ‘narcotics’US, 1958.4the Lexington (Kentucky)

Federal Narcotics HospitalUS, 1955

narcoticadjectivewild, intenseUS, 1980

nardsnounthe male genitalsUS, 1970

nargnounan IndianNEW ZEALAND, 1998

narghilenouna water pipe used for smoking marijuana or hashish

US, 1970

narknoun1a police informer Also spelt ‘narc’UK, 1839.2an

aggravating personAUSTRALIA, 1846.3a spoilsportAUSTRALIA, 1927.4an

awkward customer, one with no intention of buyingUK, 1979.5a

spiteful argumentUK, 1979.6temper; a fit of annoyanceAUSTRALIA,

1946.7umbrageUK, 1979.< put the nark onto discourageUK, 1979

narkverb1to annoyUK, 1888.2to thwartAUSTRALIA, 1891.3to

complain, to grumbleUK, 1916.4to nagNEW ZEALAND, 1984.5to act as

an informerUK, 1859

nark it!be quiet!, stop it!, shut up!UK, 1925

narksnoun< the narksdecompression sickness (a medical

con-dition that may be suffered by deep-sea divers) From the medical

term ‘nitrogen narcosis’UK, 1964

narkyadjectivebad-tempered, aggravated, annoyed; sarcasticUK, 1895

narrowadjectiveserious Recorded in use in urban black societyUK,

narrowbacknoun1an unskilled, unfit labourerUS, 1987.2a construction electrician A term used with derision by power linemen to describe their intra-union rivalsUS, 1980

narrow yellownouna military form (OCSA Form 159) used to pass routine actions to staff agenciesUS, 1986

narstyadjectivedisgusting An embellishment of ‘nasty’US, 2002

naryadverbneither; noUS, 1746

nashverb to leave, especially in a hurry From Romany nash, nasher

(to run)UK, 1819

nashadjectiveweak, sickly, coddledCAYMAN ISLANDS, 1985

Nasho; nashonoun1a person serving in the National Service, a form of compulsory military service 1951–72AUSTRALIA, 1962.2the National Service Often used in the plural Nashos or Nashoes

AUSTRALIA, 1962

nasodrainnounwhile surfing, the sudden and violent expulsion of sea water through the noseUS, 1991

nastinessnounpoor quality drugsUK, 2000

nasturtiumsnounaspersions A deliberate malapropism, usually as

‘cast nasturtiums’UK, 1984

nastynoun1the vagina A usage that calls to mind Grose’s defi-nition ofC**T– ‘a nasty name for a nasty thing’NEW ZEALAND, 1998.

2the penisAUSTRALIA, 1971.3a violently pornographic or horrific film Often combined asVIDEO-NASTYbut the content appears to

be outlasting the technologyUK, 1982.4an authority or agency that enforces citizens’ band radio regulationsUK, 1981.< do the nasty

to have sex A squeamish euphemism applied in a jocular manner

US, 1977.< the nastyheroinUK, 1996

nastyadjective1excellentUS, 1940.2sexy, attractive, appealing; sluttish A reversal of the conventional senseUS, 1995

nasty-assedadjectivecruelUS, 1995

nasty boatnouna patrol boat developed for the coastal anti-invasion mission of the Royal Norwegian Navy The ‘nasty’ is a technical term adopted to the vernacularUS, 1991

nasty daysnouna woman’s menstrual periodBAHAMAS, 1982

nastygramnounany unpleasant or unwanted e-mailUS, 1991

nasty-nastynounsexUS, 1993

nasty neatadjectivecleaner than cleanUS, 1975

nasty piece of worknounan objectionable personUK, 1961

nasty upverbto ruin or spoilBARBADOS, 1965

Nat; natnounin politics, a nationalistSOUTH AFRICA, 1926 8see:NAT KING COLE

natalienouna black homosexual Gay slang, formed on the name Natalie, possibly as a play on Natal, and originating among Cape colouredsSOUTH AFRICA, 2000

natchnoun< on the natchwithdrawing from drug addiction without medication to ease the painUS, 1969

natch; nachadverbnaturallyUS, 1945

natenoun1nothingUS, 1993.2an Alaskan nativeUS, 1983

natesnounthe buttocksUS, 1993

nationalnoun< on tour with the nationalbeing moved from prison to prison via the national inter-prison transport system A pun appreciated by actors of the National TheatreUK, 1996.< the

nationalthe national inter-prison transport systemUK, 1996

national debtnouna bet Rhyming slangUK, 1960

National Frontnounan unpleasant or despicable person Rhyming slang forCUNT, formed on a political organisation of the extreme right; a neat punUK, 1992

national gamenounthe gambling game two-upAUSTRALIA, 1930

national handbagnoununemployment benefit; the local offices

(money) Recorded as a contemporary gay usageUK, 2003

National Huntnounaudaciousness; impudence Rhyming slang for

‘front’ (seeMORE FRONT THAN SELFRIDGES), formed from the official

nativenoun1a native American IndianUS, 2000.2to the employee of

a circus or carnival, a local patronUS, 1980

native sportnounduring the Vietnam war, looking for and killing

Viet CongUS, 1991

Nat King Cole; natnoun1unemployment benefit; a government

office from which unemployment benefit is managed Rhyming

slang forTHE DOLE; formed on the name of US singer and

musician Nat ‘King’ Cole, 1919–65 Often in the phrase ‘on the

Nat’UK, 1961.2a mole (on the skin) Rhyming slangUK, 1992.3a

bread roll Rhyming slangUK, 1992

natoadjectiveused for describing someone who is not sexually

aggressiveUS, 1968

natternounaimless conversation; incessantly complaining talk

From northern English dialect gnatter (to grumble in conversation)

UK, 1943

natterverbto engage in aimless conversation, to chatUK, 1943

nattynoun1any natural light beerUS, 2002.2a wearer of dreadlocks,

especially a RastafarianJAMAICA, 1976

nattyadjective1stylish, smartly neatUK, 1785.2of hair, matted,

uncombed, in a condition to be formed into dreadlocksJAMAICA,

1974

Natty BonounNational Bohemian™ beerUS, 1990

naturalnoun1a hairstyle embraced largely by black people,

featuring longer, unprocessed, unparted hairUS, 1969.2in craps, a

winning roll of seven on the first tossUS, 1962.3Seven-Up™ soda

An allusion to the game of craps, where a seven is a ‘natural’US,

1967.4in pool, a shot that cannot be missed or a game that

cannot be lostUS, 1990.5a conventional (as opposed to

countercultural) person Used by beatniks, and then hippies;

gener-ally in the pluralUK, 1967

natural punknounin prison, a man who had been homosexual

outside prisonUS, 1972

naturenounthe penis; sexual arousalUS, 2002

nature boynouna boy in need of a haircutUS, 1955

nature callsused for announcing, and for excusing yourself for, a

needed visit to the toilet; the condition of needing to relieve

yourselfUK, 1984

nature’s scythenounthe penisUK, 2003

Naughton and Goldnouna cold Rhyming slang, formed from a

comedy double act that was part of the Crazy Gang, Charlie

Naughton, 1887–1976, and Jimmy Gold, 1886–1967UK, 1961

naughtynoun1an act of sexual intercourseAUSTRALIA, 1959.2a

physi-cal injury; hence, a disserviceUK, 1984

naughtyverbto have sexAUSTRALIA, 1961

naughtyadjective1corrupt or violent An archaic sense, used by

Shakespeare to describe the criminally wicked, re-emerged in the

C20UK, 2000.2of antique furniture, being passed off as something

better or other than it isUK, 1971

naughty Nazi salutenounthe fully erect penis A parallel with the

arm raised stiffly from the body at a similar angleUK, 2003

nause; nauzenounan inconvenience, a difficulty, an unpleasant

person or thing ‘Nausea’ abbreviated and adaptedUK, 1977

nause; nause upverbto spoil FromNAUSE(an inconvenience, an

unpleasant thing)UK, 1978

nauseanountrouble, a fuss In military useUK, 1959

Naussienouna New Australian, especially a recent migrant from

Europe A blend of ‘new’ andAUSSIE AUSTRALIA , 1959

nautchnouna brothel; a striptease; a sex show of any kind

American Dialect Society member Douglas G Wilson has

suggested that the term is a mildly anglicised version of the Hindi

word for ‘a dance’US, 1872

Nauticsnoun< the Nauticsthe Royal Navy Used, originally, by

the Royal Air Force; shortened from ‘nautical’UK, 1951

navnoun a navigator In Royal Navy and Royal Air Force use US, 1956

Nava-Joe a member of the Navajo Indian tribe

naval engagementnounsexual intercourse Used, originally, by naval officers; in speech it’s a perfect punCANADA, 1984

navy bratnounthe child of a career member of the navyUS, 1992

Navy cakenounhomosexual anal sexUS, 1964

nawnoUS, 1990

nay-naysnouna woman’s breastsUS, 1967

nay-nono, said with kindness From the film Pootie Tang US, 2003

Nazinouna fanatic about the preceding noun Not coined but rendered wildly popular on the ‘Soup Nazi’ episode of Jerry Seinfeld’s television comedy that first aired on 2nd November

1995US, 1984

Naziadjectiveunreasonably authoritarianUK, 2001

Nazi cranknounmethamphetamineUK, 2004

Nazi go-cart; Nazi go-kartnouna Volkswagen car Citizens’ band radio slang remembering that Volkswagen were German manufacturers before and during World War 2US, 1976

NBGadjective of no use An abbreviation of ‘no bloody good’ UK, 1903

NDGadjective no damned good CANADA, 1997

near and farnoun1a bar in a public house Dated rhyming slang that remains a familiar term because of its neat reversal withFAR AND NEAR(beer)UK, 1909.2a car Rhyming slangUK, 1971

near-beernouna beer-like product with a very low alcohol content, legal during Prohibition There is some dispute about who said the cleverest thing ever said about ‘near bear’ – ‘The guy who called that near beer is a bad judge of distance’US, 1909

near the boneadjectivebarely within contemporary moral standards

of tasteUK, 1941

near the knuckleadjectivebarely within contemporary standards of decencyUK, 1909

neatadjective1pleasing, very good Found as early as 1808, rejected late in the C19, and then returned to favour in the 1930s Still heard; inescapablyHOKEY Considered as an Americanism in the

UK but used by teenagers without ironyUS, 1936.2(used of an alcoholic drink) served without ice or waterUK, 1579

neat as a pinadjectivevery neatUK, 1787

neatoadjectivegoodUS, 1901

neatojetadjectiveexcellentUS, 1972

nebnoun1the noseUK: SCOTLAND, 1985.2an act of pryingUK: SCOTLAND, 1985.3an inquisitive personUK: SCOTLAND, 1985

nebverbto pry FromNEB(a nosey person or an instance of prying)

UK: SCOTLAND, 1985

nebbie; nebnounNembutal™, a branded central nervous system depressantUS, 1963

nebbish; nebish; nebbechnouna hapless individual; an

insignificant nobody From Yiddish ne’bech (too bad!, alas!) thus Yiddish nebech (the poor thing); the many variant spellings – not

all of which are listed here – result from the difficulty of pronunciationUK, 1892

nebbyadjectiveinquisitive, pryingUS, 1982

Nebraska signnouna completely flat reading on an electrocardiogram An allusion to the endless flat prairies of NebraskaUS, 1994

Nebruary morningadverbneverBARBADOS, 1965

nebularadjectiveexcellentUS, 1995

necessariesnoun< the necessariesthe male genitalsUK, 1962

necessarynoun1money, fundsUK, 1897.2a latrineUS, 1991

necknoun1the throatUK, 1818.2a drink From the verb senseUK,

2002.3a white prisoner A shortened ‘redneck’US, 1976.4in horse racing, a distance of less than half a horse-lengthUS, 1951.

5impudence, effrontery, self-confidence From Northumberland dialectUK, 1894.< get it down your neck; get that down your

neckto swallow it Often, when in reference to an alcoholic drink,

a light-hearted imperativeUK, 1909.< get it in the neck; catch

it in the neck; take it in the neckto be severely punished or

else’s prerogativeAUSTRALIA, 1989.< neck like a jockey’s bollocks

used descriptively of a scrawny neck and analogously for personal

qualities of toughness and insensitivity; said of someone who is

not afraid to take advantage of a situation for their own gain

IRELAND, 1992.< up to the neck; up to your neckdeeplyUS, 1998

neckverb1to kiss in a lingering fashionUK, 1825.2to swallowUK, 1514.

3to drinkAUSTRALIA, 1998.4in prison, to swallow a package of drugs

with the intention of retrieval after excretionUK, 1996.5to commit

suicideAUSTRALIA, 1995

neckingnounthe act of kissing, caressing and cuddlingUK, 1825

necklaceverbto set fire to a car tyre that has been doused in petrol

and placed around a victim’s neck An innocent sounding term for

a horrid practice, usually practised black-on-black in the waning

days of the white supremacist government in South AfricaSOUTH

AFRICA, 1986

necklace; necklace of firenouna tyre doused or filled with petrol,

placed around a victim’s neck or shoulders, and set alightSOUTH

AFRICA, 1985

necklacernounan executioner who, in the name of some informal

justice, kills by means of the necklaceSOUTH AFRICA, 1987

necklacingnounan act, or the action, of killing by means of the

necklaceSOUTH AFRICA, 1986

neck oilnounalcohol, especially beerUK, 1860

necktie partynouna hanging, especially an extra-judicial lynching

US, 1882

necronouna necrophileUS, 1987

nectarnounalcohol Formerly standard English, now slumming in

slang with an archaic toneUS, 1966

nectaradjectiveexcellentUS, 1989

nednoun1a young hooligan; a petty criminalUK: SCOTLAND, 1977.2a

member of a Scottish subcultural urban adolescent grouping

defined by loutish behaviour and a fondness for sportswear and

jewelleryUK, 2004

Nednounthe personification of malnutritionBARBADOS, 1965

neddynouna horseAUSTRALIA, 1887

nederhashnounany or all varieties of hashish produced in the

Netherlands A compound of Dutch Nederland (Netherlands) and

HASH NETHERLANDS , 2003

Ned Kellynoun1a television; television Rhyming slang forTELLY;

based on Australian bushranger Ned Kelly (1854–80) Current in

UK prisons in 2002UK, 1979.2the belly Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA,

1945.3a thief From Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly, Australian bushranger and

folk hero (1855–80), famed for wearing self-made armour during

his final showdown with policeAUSTRALIA, 1962.< game as Ned

Kellyextremely game; courageousAUSTRALIA, 1938

neediesnoungypsies English gypsy useUK, 2000

needlenoun1a feeling of resentment or irritation Originally tailors’

slangUK, 1873.2a vehicle’s speedometerUS, 1976.< do the needle

to inject drugs, especially heroinUK, 1996.< get the needle (at,

with or to)to become angry or ill-tempered (towards a stated

someone or something)UK, 1874.< on the needleusing or

addicted to drugs injected intravenouslyUS, 1942

needleverb1to irritate, to annoy, to provokeUK, 1873.2in the illegal

production of alcohol, to simulate ageing by inserting an electric

needle into the kegUS, 1974

needle and pinnouna twin Rhyming slang The plural is ‘needles

and pins’UK, 1998

needle and threadnounbread Rhyming slangUK, 1859

needle beernounbeer which has been fortified with another form

of alcoholUS, 1962

needle candynounany drug that can be injectedUS, 1971

needledicknoun1a small, thin penis; a man so equippedUS, 1970.

2a despicable manUS, 1998

needle-dickedadjectiveendowed with a small penisUK, 1995

needle freaknounan intravenous drug userUS, 1967

needle jockey

needlemannounin a confidence swindle, an agent who inspires the victim with confidence in the schemeUS, 1988

needle parknouna public park or public area where drug addicts

gather and inject drugs Brought into the idiom by the Panic in

Needle Park (1966), referring to a traffic island at 74th and

Broadway on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, where heroin addicts congregatedUS, 1966

Needle ParknicknameSherman Square (71st Street and Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway), New York So named because it was a spot favoured by drug usersUS, 1982

need-one-take-onenounthe small tray near a shop’s cash till with pennies which customers may use for making exact paymentsUS, 1997

neeknouna socially awkward or unfashionable personUK, 2005

neffadjectivebad, generally contemptible A variation ofNAFF UK , 2003

negatoryno Coined in the military, popularised in the US by truck drivers in the 1970sUS, 1955

neg drivingnounthe crime of negligent drivingAUSTRALIA, 1969

negotiable grassnounmoneyUS, 1951

negrogramnoungossip An effort to euphemise the more popular

NIGGERGRAM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003

negsnounin prison, child neglectUK, 1996

neighbornounthe number on either side of the winning number

on a roulette wheelUS, 1961

neilnounan LSD capsule An allusion to Neil Young, whose music is suitable for enjoyment by young LSD usersCANADA, 1993

neither use nor ornamentadjectiveapplied to a useless person or thing Contemptuous Not noted until 1978, however ‘[D]idn’t appear to me to be either useful or ornamental[.]’, recorded in

1942, implies an earlier useUK, 1978

nekkidadjectivenaked Jocular spellingUS, 1973

nellienounan obviously homosexual man; an effeminate homosex-ual man Recorded at least as early as 1916, but not fully emerged until the outing of gay cultureUK, 1916

nellynoun1cheap wine Shortening of earlier ‘Nelly’s death’ (1935,

Australian National Dictionary) AUSTRALIA, 1941.2the pelvic muscles

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003

nelly!used, by effeminate homosexual men, as an exclamation of disgust or contempt Remembered, or otherwise dated, as ‘mid-1950s’, by BealeUK, 1984

nellyardaverbto listenUK, 2002

nelly-assedadjectiveeffeminateUS, 1963

Nelly Bligh; Nelly Blynoun1a meat pie Rhyming slang, formed

on the protagonist of a folk songAUSTRALIA, 1950.2a fly Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA, 1955

nelly, nellieadjectiveextremely, even outrageously, effeminateUS, 1963

Nelly’s roomnoun< up in Nelly’s room behind the wallpaper

the presumed location of something missingIRELAND, 2003

Nelson Eddy; nelsonadjectiveready Rhyming slang, based on US entertainer Nelson Eddy (1901–67)UK, 1992

Nelson Mandela; nelsonnounlager, especially the Belgian lager Stella Artois™ Rhyming slang, ‘Mandela’ for ‘Stella’ Based on African statesman, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (b.1918), emphasising lager drinkers’ grasp of world affairsUK, 2002

nelsonsnouncash Formed fromNELSON EDDY(ready), thusREADIES

(cash)UK, 1991

Nelson’s bloodnounrumAUSTRALIA, 1924

nembie; nembynouna barbiturate, especially Nembutal™US, 1950

nemishnouna capsule of pentobarbital sodium (trade name Nembutal™), a central nervous system depressantUS, 1969

nemmienouna capsule of pentobarbitral sodium (trade name Nembutal™), a central nervous system depressantUS, 1950

Nep; Nepalese

Nepalese blue; Nepalese; Royal Nepalesenounmarijuana

cultivated in NepalUK, 1970

Nepalese temple balls; Nepalese temple hashnounhashish

from Nepal, originally prepared for religious useUS, 1989

nephewnouna young, passive male homosexual in relation to his

older loverUS, 1950

neppynouna person from northeast Philadelphia A combination of

‘North East Philly’US, 1996

Nepsha and Kiahnouna random selection of people from the

populaceBARBADOS, 1965

’nernoundinnerUS, 1969

nerd; nurdnouna person lacking in social skills, fashion sense or

bothUS, 1951

nerdbombernouna pest A catchy term from the television

programme Full House US, 1990

nerd boxnouna study cubicleUS, 1997

nerdistannouna dormitory community for

information-and-com-munication-technology workers A play onNERD(a dull social

stereotype)US, 1997

nerdlynouna socially inept outcastUS, 1965

nerdvananounthe world of computer enthusiasts who surf the

Internet every nightCANADA, 1995

nerfverbin motor racing, to bump a competitor during a raceUS,

1952

nerf barnounin hot rodding, a car bumperUS, 1953

nerk; nurknouna contemptible person Possibly compoundsNERD

andJERK(a fool) orBERK(a fool) A floral tribute in the shape of

the word ‘nurk’ featured in the comedy-documentary Life Beyond

The Box, BBC 2, 3rd May 2004 UK, 1966

nervenouneffrontery, audacityUK, 1893

nervesnoun< get on your nervesto affect morbidlyUK, 1937

Nervo and Knoxnoun1television; a television Rhyming slang for

BOX, formed from the names of a comedy double act, members of

the Crazy Gang, Jimmy Nervo, 1890–1975, and Teddy Knox,

1896–1974UK, 1971.2syphillis, a sexually transmitted infection

Rhyming slang forPOX, sometimes abbreviated to ‘nervo’UK, 1977.

3socks Rhyming slangUK, 1961

nervousadjectiveexcellent, well doneUS, 1926

Nervous AirnicknameService Air, the Canadian military

administrative term for the rough and ready travel using military

transportCANADA, 1995

nervous Nellienounan excessively nervous personUS, 1926

nervous wrecknouna cheque Rhyming slangUK, 1998

nervyadjectivenervousUS, 1891

Nessienicknamethe Loch Ness monster This familiar name for a

shadow on which part of the Scottish economy exists developed

not long after the newspapers announced, on 2nd May 1933, that

a giant marine creature had been seen in Loch Ness It is

interesting to note that Nessie reappears in the papers about the

same time each yearUK, 2001

nestnoun1a bedUS, 1990.2a hairdo High school student usageUS,

1961

nest eggnounmoney saved for the futureUK, 1700

nesternouna member of the Mexican-American prison gang

Nuestra Familia A corrupted pronunciation of ‘Nuestra’US, 1990

Nestle’s Quicknouna non-commissioned officer recently arrived in

Vietnam after graduation from training school The short time it

took to earn their rank bothered enlisted men, who struck back

with this allusion to Nestlé Quik™ (later Nesquik™), a powdered

milk flavouringUS, 1991

netnoun1ten; in betting, odds of 10–1 Back slangUK, 1851.2the

InternetUS, 1995

net and bicenounin betting, odds of 12–1 A combination ofNET

net and exnounin betting, odds of 16–1 A combination ofNET

(ten) and a slurring of ‘six’, adding up to sixteenUK, 1991

net and roufnounin betting, odds of 14–1 A combination ofNET

(ten) andROUF(four), adding up to fourteenUK, 1991

netheadnounin the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, a follower of the band who is part of the Grateful Dead cyber communityUS, 1994

netiquettenounthe protocol, implicit or explicit, observed by members of an Internet discussion groupUS, 1995

netlagnounan inordinate delay in an Internet relay chat A pun on the standard ‘jet lag’US, 1995

net policenouna participant in an Internet discussion group who

on a self-appointed basis polices the discussion for protocol and etiquette violationsUS, 1991

neuronnouna neurologistUS, 1994

neutralnoun< to put someone into neutralto castrate someoneNEW ZEALAND, 2002

Nevada lettucenouna one-thousand-dollar note Nevada, formerly the only state in the US with legal gambling, is still the most popular gambling destination in the US and the only state with legal brothelsUS, 1962

Nevada nickelnouna five-dollar gambling tokenUS, 1979

neveradverbnotUK, 1999

never againnoun Ben Truman™, a branded beer Rhyming slang,

from the promise made the morning after the night beforeUK, 1992

neverendumnouneither of the two referenda on Quebec sovereignty or independence The term is a sarcastic allusion to the independentist government’s having called two votes on the subject and vowing to keep calling them till it wonCANADA, 1999

never fear – NAME is herea catchphrase announcement – using the speaker’s name, of course – of the speaker’s reassuring presence; also used, by the speaker, as a general greeting; or, ironically (and, occasionally, disdainfully) of a third partyUK, 1975

never happen!used for expressing supreme doubtTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1956

never in a pig’s earnever Rhyming slang for ‘never in a year’UK, 1977

nevermindnoun< makes no nevermindmakes no differenceUS, 1924

never mind!1don’t worry; mind your own business Semi-exclamatory imperativeUK, 1959.2used as a humorous admission

of misunderstanding A key signature line of the early years of

NBC’s Saturday Night Live, uttered by the Emily Litella character

played by Gilda Radner who would end rants about ‘Soviet Jewelry’

or ‘the deaf penalty’ with the humble ‘never mind’ Repeated with referential humourUS, 1977

never-nevernoun1hire purchase A suggestion that you will never, never pay off your debts, with an ironic reference to J.M Barrie (1860–1937)’s idealised home for Peter Pan, ‘Never Never Land’, first realised in 1904UK, 1964.2the remote regions of interior Australia Origin unknown Sometimes upper caseAUSTRALIA, 1833

never-never countrynounthe remote regions of interior Australia

AUSTRALIA, 1889

never-never landnoun1an imaginary, ideal world From J M

Barrie’s Peter Pan novels UK, 1900.2the hire purchase method of payment by instalmentsUK, 2005

never pitch a bitchused in confidence swindles as a humorous rule of thumb meaning ‘never try to do a sales job on a woman’

US, 1985

never smarten a sucker upused by gambling cheats and confi-dence swindlers as a prime rule of the tradeUS, 1950

never this yearnot a chanceUK, 2000

never-wasnouna person to whom actual achievement has eluded

US, 1891

neves; nevisnoun1in betting, odds of 7–1UK, 1991.2the number

.

A specific application of the number seven Sometimes extended

to ‘nevis stretch’UK, 1958

neves and a halfnounIn bookmaker slangNEVESis 7–1, here the

addition of ‘a half’ increases the odds to 7½–1or 15–2 In

bookmaker slangNEVESis 7–1, here the addition of ‘a half’

increases the odds to 71/2–1or 15–2UK, 1991

neves to roufnounin betting, odds of 7–4 A combination ofNEVES

(seven) andROUF(four) when, if used alone, each word signifies

more than the number itself Pronounced ‘nevis to roaf’UK, 1991

Nevillenouna stupid or annoying person; a person lacking in social

skills, fashion sense or bothAUSTRALIA, 1995

newnouna lager-style beer brewed by the bottom-fermentation

method As opposed toOLD AUSTRALIA , 1935

new!used for commenting humorously on a new purchaseUS, 1963

new additionnouncrack cocaineUK, 2003

newbnouna new user of the Internet; a newcomer to an Internet

discussion group or multi-player game A shortening of ‘newbie’

UK, 2003

newbienoun1a new user of the Internet; a new arrival to an

Internet discussion group The general sense ‘newcomer’ used

condescendinglyUS, 1995.2a newcomer Originally militaryUS, 1970

new boynounused of a man or a corporate entity, a new arrival to

an existing community From school usage, applied less accurately

in military, business and other closed-circlesUK, 1948

New Brunswick credit cardnouna rubber siphoning hose for

stealing petrol An analogous term is the TexasOKLAHOMA CREDIT

CARD People from better-off adjacent states or provinces seem

convinced that their poorer neighbours are thievesCANADA, 1992

newbugnouna new boy or new girl Originally from Marlborough

School and only of a boy, now widespreadUK, 1900

newbyverbto fail to perform at a critical momentUS, 2002

Newcastledadjectivefilled with Newcastle Brown Ale™; drunk

(pro-bably as a result of drinking Newcastle Brown Ale) Newcastle

Brown Ale was first brewed (in Newcastle) in 1927UK, 2002

new chumnoun1a newly arrived immigrant from Britain who has

little knowledge of local life and customs Originally applied to

newly incarcerated prisoners (1812 Vaux), it was applied to

migrants as early as 1828 (Australian National Dictionary); the

opposing term was ‘old chum’ but this did not survive into the

C20AUSTRALIA, 1969.2a noviceAUSTRALIA, 1851

New Delhinounthe belly Rhyming slang, formed, possibly, on a sly

reference to Indian foodUK, 1992

Newfnouna NewfoundlanderCANADA, 1958

Newfienounany person from NewfoundlandUS, 1942

Newfie banananounthe root of the cinnamon fernCANADA, 1988

Newfie Bulletnouna train that traversed the interior of

Newfoundland IronicCANADA, 1965

Newfiejohnnounthe city of St John’s, NewfoundlandCANADA, 1945

new girlnouna new arrival to an existing community From school

use, applied to a female adult joining military, business or other

closed groupUK, 2003

New Guinea crudnounany skin rash suffered in tropical and jungle

environmentsUS, 1946

new guynouna freshly arrived soldier to combat Often embellished

toFUCKING NEW GUY US , 1970

New Hampshire screwdrivernouna hammer Maine usage,

looking down on the workmanship of carpenters from the south

US, 1975

newienounsomething newAUSTRALIA, 1924

Newington Butts; newingtonsnounthe stomach, abdomen, guts;

in a figurative sense the essential qualities of a person Rhyming

slang forGUTS Newington Butts is an area of south LondonUK, 1960

new jacknouna newcomer (especially one likely to be a success)US,

1988

new jack swing

new kidnounin roller derby, a skater who has not yet been accepted by other skatersUS, 1999

new kid on the blockadjectivein bar dice games, a player just joining an ongoing gameUS, 1971

Newky brown; NewkynounNewcastle Brown Ale™ As widely used

as the beer is appreciatedUK, 1984

new-man-rulenounan unwritten rule among some units of the US Army in Vietnam that a newly arrived soldier would be placed at the front of the unit as pointmanUS, 1990

new meatnoun1a new student at a schoolUS, 1962.2an inexperi-enced prison inmateUS, 1938.3an inexperienced soldier freshly arrived at the frontUS, 1971

new nipnouna small boy, or a new boy at a schoolUK, 1947

new oneapplied to a previously unheard joke or anecdote, or to something seen, or heard of, for the first time Generally phrased

‘that’ or ‘it’s a new one on’ followed by a pronoun or person’s nameUS, 1887

new pussynouna woman unknown to gang membersUS, 1966

news bunnynouna female television reporter or anchor hired for her cute looksUS, 1990

new schooladjective(used of rap music) current, modern The functional reciprocal ofOLD SKOOL US , 2001

news hawknouna newspaper reporterUS, 1931

new-sicknouna new influenza virusBARBADOS, 1965

newspapernouna thirty-day jail sentenceUS, 1926

newspapersnounLSDUK, 2003

newsstandnouna dealer in pornographic literature and magazines

US, 1986

newsyadjective1full of information, especially of trivial or personal mattersUK, 1832.2nosy; too interested in gossipUS, 1970

newszinenouna fan magazine that does not contain any fiction, just newsUS, 1976

newtedadjectivedrunk FromPISSED AS A NEWT UK , 1984

Newton and Ridleyadjectivemildly drunk Rhyming slang for

TIDDLY, formed from the name of the fictitious brewery that supplies the drinking requirements of the characters in the

long-running television soap opera Coronation Street UK, 1998

Newton Heathnounteeth Rhyming slang from Manchester, formed on the name of an industrial suburb of the cityUK, 1959

new toynounin the Metropolitan Police, a newly introduced piece

of equipment; a new recruitUK, 1999

New Yearnoun< not know if it’s New Year or New York

applied to anyone who is failing to think clearly (for whatever reason)UK: SCOTLAND, 1988

New Yorkernouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy A play onAPPLE(a variety of MDMA) andTHE APPLE(New York)UK, 1996

New York kissnouna punch to the faceUS, 1999

New York minutenouna very short period of time A nod to the impatience associated with New YorkersUS, 1948

New York reloadnouna second (concealed) pistol; an act of drawing a second gun Derives from a legal loophole: New York police used not to be allowed the use of a speed loader but a second, concealed gun was apparently permissibleUS, 2002

New York Slimenickname the New York Times newspaper US, 1981

newzaknountrivial news, or broadcast news that exists in the background but is ignored A play on ‘muzak’UK, 2003

New Zealand greennouna strain of marijuana, known elsewhere

as Tasmanian tiger, Thai Buddha and Hawaiian headNEW ZEALAND, 2002

New Zealand mafianouna notional organisation of New Zealand professionals in LondonNEW ZEALAND, 1986

nextnounduring the Vietnam war, a soldier whose rotation home was due in only a few days

nextadjectivewithin a few days of returning to the US after a tour of

duty in VietnamUS, 1990

nextishnounthe next issue of a single-interest fan magazineUS, 1982

nexusnoun4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethyliamine, a mild

hallucinogenUS, 1995

NFnicknamethe Nuestra Familia prison gangUS, 2000

NFverbas an act of racial hatred, to set fire to a property that

houses members of an ethnic minority Derives from the initials

of the National Front, a politically right-wing organisation founded

on muddled philosophies of racial intolerance and violent

interventionUK, 2005

NFGadjective used as shorthand to mean ‘no fucking good’ US, 1977

NFNdoctors’ shorthand for the facetious diagnosis: normal for

Norfolk Recorded in an article about medical slang in British (3

London and 1 Cambridge) hospitalsUK, 2003

NGadjectiveno goodUS, 1879

NHIadjectiveused for describing a crime against a criminal,

especially one involving only black people An abbreviation of ‘no

humans involved’ US, 1973

Niagara Falls; niagarasnounthe testicles Rhyming slangUK, 1943

nibblenouna non-commital expression of interest From the image

of a fish trying a baitUK, 1959

nibbynouna walking stick, especially one used in rounding up sheep

NEW ZEALAND, 1964

nibsnoun< his nibs; her nibshimself; herself; a self-important

person Usually styled as a mock-titleUK, 1821

nice and easynounheroinUS, 1994

nice as pieadjectivevery polite, very agreeableUS, 1922

nice bitnouna prison sentence of three years or moreUK, 1996

nice enoughnouna homosexual male Rhyming slang forPUFF UK ,

1992

nice kittynouna Christmas bonusUS, 1954

nice little earnernouna well-paid job or profitable scheme, almost

always criminal to some degree An elaboration ofEARNER, made

popular by actor George Cole as small-time crook and

wheeler-dealer Arthur Daley in Minder, 1979–94 UK, 1996

nicely irrigated with horizontal lubricantadjectivedrunk Some

people, when drinking, use too many wordsUK, 2002

nice-niceadjectivevery attractiveUK, 1994

nice oneused in a congratulatory sense to express praise for an

actionUK, 1997

nice one Cyril; nice onenouna squirrel Rhyming slangUK, 1992

nice one, Cyrilused for expressing praise A very popular

catchphrase of the mid-1970s It originated in a television

commercial and was taken up in the early 70s as a football chant

by Tottenham Hotspur FC’s supporters in celebration of Cyril

Knowles, one of the club’s leading playersUK, 1984

nice talknouna line of conversation intended to seduce Urban

black youth usageUK, 2003

nice upverbto make something more acceptable or presentable, to

improve, to refineUK, 2004

nice weather for duckswet weather Known in variant forms

since 1840UK, 1973

nicey niceadjectiveExtremely nice, even excessively nice A

diminutive, childish formation usually used with some degree of

mocking or ironyUK, 1859

nicknoun1a prison; a police station In either case it is where one

is taken after getting ‘nicked’ (arrested); the former dates from

1882, the latter 1957UK, 1950.2condition or quality, especially in

phrases ‘in good nick’, ‘in poor nick’, etc Originally dialectUK, 1905.

3in horse racing, a mating that results in the sought-after qualities

AUSTRALIA, 1989.4five dollars’ worth of marijuana A shortened form

of ‘nickel’ as inNICKEL BAG US , 2002.5in craps, a winning roll of

seven on the first tossUS, 1962.6a nicknameUS, 1995.< in the

nicknakedNEW ZEALAND, 1998.< on the nickengaged in thieving

UK, 1977

nickverb1to arrest, to apprehendUK, 1622.2in prison, to place on reportUK, 2001.3to stealUK, 1869.4to win a gamble, possibly by taking an unfair advantage or cheating A variation of earlier obsolete senses: ‘to cheat at cards’, ‘to defraud’UK, 1676.5(of a person) to move quickly Followed by an adverb Perhaps a special-ised use of the sense ‘to cheat’AUSTRALIA, 1894.6to throw dice

BARBADOS, 1965.< get nickedget lost Euphemistic for ‘get fucked’

AUSTRALIA, 1968.< nick a livingto make enough money to survive

UK, 1998.< nick the titleto win a sporting contest and thereby to take the titleUK, 1998

nick about withverbto go around in the company of, or associate with, someone or some group of peopleUK: SCOTLAND, 1985

nick awayverbto leave, to steal awayNEW ZEALAND, 1998

nickedadjectivestolen From the verbNICK(to steal)UK, 2001

nickelnoun1a five-year prison sentenceUS, 1953.2five dollarsUS,

1946.3in American casinos, a five-dollar betting chipUS, 1980.4five hundred dollarsUS, 1974.5a mediocre object or situationUS, 1977

nickeladjectiveinferiorUS, 1932

nickel and dimeverbto wear down in small incrementsUS, 1961

nickel-and-dimeadjectivesmall-time, operating on a small scaleUS, 1941

nickel and dime; nickelnoun1time Rhyming slangUS, 1998.2in pool, a table that is five feet by ten feetUS, 1993

nickel-and-dime pimpnouna small-time pimpUS, 1972

nickel bagnounfive dollars’ worth of a drugUS, 1966

nickel-dime-quarternounpoker played with very small betsUS, 1968

nickel gamenouna game of craps in which the true and correct odds are paidUS, 1950

nickel gougernounthe operator of a dishonest carnival gameUS, 1950

nickel notenouna five-dollarUS, 1926

nickeloniannouna crack cocaine addict A play on ‘nickelodian’, after theNICKEL BAGthat the addict hungers forUS, 1998

nickel-pinchernouna cheapskate A variation on the much more common ‘penny-pincher’US, 1949

nickelsnounin craps, a roll of two fivesUS, 1983

nickels and dimesnounin hold ’em poker, a five and ten as the first two cards dealt to a playerUS, 1981

nickel seatsnouninexpensive seats at an event, usually far from the actionUS, 1990

nickel’s worthnouna five-minute conversation on a citizens’ band radio Five minutes was once the longest conversation allowed at one timeUS, 1976

nick ’em and stick ’emused of the professional approach of a prison officer who is interested only in the discipline and confine-ment of prisonersUK, 1996

nickernoun1one pound sterling (£1); poundsUK, 1910.2pounds

AUSTRALIA, 1965

nicker bitnouna one-pound coin FromNICKER(£1)UK, 1992

nicker bitsnoundiarrhoea Rhyming slang forTHE SHITS, formed fromNICKER BIT(a £1 coin)UK, 1992

nick jointnouna dishonest gambling operationUS, 1978

nick-nackernounan infrequent drug userUS, 1984

nick nickused of catching or arresting, or the act of being caught Reduplication ofNICK(to arrest); directly from the catchphrase popularised in the later 1970s by comedian Jim Davidson (b.1953)

UK, 1981

nick offverb1to depart, to leaveAUSTRALIA, 1901.2to play truant Teen slangUK, 1982.3to take or steal somethingAUSTRALIA, 1968

Nicky Buttnouna testicle Rhyming slang forNUT(S), formed from a Manchester United footballer (b.1975)UK, 1998

nic-nac partynouna party for a bride-to-be At the party, the gifts

for the bride focus on her future homeAUSTRALIA, 1988

niddy-noddynouna stick about a foot long, with end-pieces, used

for wrapping yarnCANADA, 1986

nieblanounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or

angel dust Spanish for ‘cloud’US, 1994

nievenouncocaine Spanish for ‘snow’US, 1993

niffnounan unpleasant smell Possibly derives from ‘sniff’UK, 1903

niffverbto smell unpleasantly From the noun senseUK, 1927

niffyadjectivesmelly From Sussex dialectUK, 1937

niftynounthe sum of fifty pounds sterling (£50) Not really rhyming

slang, merely a convenient rhymeUK, 1999

niftyadjectivesmart, fashionable, fine, splendid Old-fashioned and

affected; probably a corrupted ‘magnificent’US, 1805

nifty fiftynounan act of masturbation A rhymed approximation of

the number of movements required Often in the phrase ‘give it

the nifty fifty’UK, 1984

nifty-keenadjectiveexcellentUS, 1972

nignoun1a black person A shortened form ofNIGGER, no less

offensiveUS, 1828.2an Australian Aboriginal Racially offensive; now

not very commonAUSTRALIA, 1880.3a new soldier, either a recruit or

one just out of recruit trainingUK, 1980

Nigel Bennnouna pen Rhyming slang, formed from the name of a

champion boxer (b.1964)UK, 1998

Nigeriannounin homosexual usage, any black manUS, 1987

Nigerian lagernounGuinness™, the branded stout From the deep

black colour of the beerUK, 1977

Nigerian scam spamnouna swindle that uses e-mail to solicit

potential victims to help an African correspondent transfer

millions of dollars into an American bank accountUS, 2002

nigganouna black person A deliberate misspelling, reinventing

NIGGERfor exclusive black use; widely used in gangsta rapUS, 1980s

niggernoun1a black person When used by white speakers, highly

offensive; used by black speakers, especially the young, with

increasing frequencyUK, 1574.2an Australian Aboriginal Racially

offensiveAUSTRALIA, 1845.3a MaoriNEW ZEALAND, 1858.4a friend The

word having been reclaimed by the black population, usage in the

racially-mixed community of St Pauls, Bristol, resulted, in 2003, in

white youths emulating black peers and calling their friends, of

any skin-colour, ‘nigger’UK, 2003.5in the television and film

industries, a screen on a stand used to achieve lighting effectsUK,

1960.< another push and you’d have been a niggerused

insultingly as a slur on the morals of the subject’s mother,

implying that she would have sex with anyone of any raceUK, 1961

niggeratinouna high profile grouping of successful members of

black society A black coinage, combiningNIGGER(a black person)

and-ERATI(a suffix which suggests the fashionable)UK, 2000

nigger babiesnoundirt specks, especially in the creases of the neck

US, 1970

nigger baitnouna great deal of chrome on a carUS, 1960

nigger bankrollnouna single large-denomination bill wrapped

around small-denomination notes, giving the impression of a great

deal of moneyUS, 1980

nigger betnounan uncommon amount wageredUS, 1968

nigger flickernouna small knife; a razor blade used as a weapon

US, 1980

niggergramnoungossipTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1950

nigger-haternounan overt racistUS, 1951

niggerheadnoun1tobacco, twisted into a plugUS, 1843.2an

eight-gallon milk canCANADA, 1992.3a tuft of grassUS, 1859.4in

lobstering, a winch headUS, 1978

niggerhead keisternouna steel safe shaped like a ballUS, 1976

nigger heavennoun1a simple, perfect happinessUS, 1906.2the

nigger in the woodpilenounanything that spoils the perfection of

a finished article Originally used without any sense that offence may be caused; now tabooUS, 1852

niggeritisnounlaziness; sloth after eatingTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2001

nigger-knockersnounheavy work bootsUS, 1964

niggerlipverbto moisten the end of a cigarette with salivaUS, 1940

nigger localnounon the railways, a freight train that makes frequent local stops that involve heavy work for the crewUS, 1916

nigger-lovernouna white person who mixes with or admires black people; a white person who believes that all men are created equal Originally white usage, it was intended to be offensive and disparagingUS, 1856

nigger-lovingadjectiveused for describing a white person who does not share the speaker’s pathological hatred of black peopleUS, 1879

nigger navelnouna type of daisyUS, 2002

nigger penniesnounan illegal lottery gameUS, 1977

nigger poolnounan illegal numbers gambling lotteryUS, 1949

nigger richadjectivemaintaining outward signs of wealthUS, 1930

nigger-rigverbto improvise in a shoddy wayUS, 1965

nigger’s lipnouna (potato) chip Rhyming slangUK, 1980

niggers’ mannouna white person who is less prejudiced than most

BAHAMAS, 1905

Niggerstannounany country with a black population RacistUK, 1994

nigger sticknouna reinforced baton used by police on suspected criminals, criminals and prisonersUS, 1971

nigger stickernouna long, sharp knifeUS, 1969

nigger tennouna cross near where a person has diedBARBADOS, 1965

nigger toenouna Brazil nutUS, 1896

nigger toesnounblack olivesUS, 1996

niggertownnouna neighbourhood with a large population of black peopleUS, 1904

nigger upverbto make many purely decorative, inexpensive, flashy modifications to a carUS, 1992

niggervillenouna section of a city or town populated by black people OffensiveUS, 1857

nigglenouna complaintUK, 1886

niggleverb1to do something in a finicky, fussy or time-wasting manner Originally, certainly from about 1640, in conventional use;

now, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, chiefly colloquial

UK, 1893.2to irritate, to cause a slight but persistent annoyance Generally considered to be a conventional use; included here for its derivatives which are certainly in this dictionary’s domainUK,

1796.3to have sexUS, 1962.4in horse racing, to urge a horse with hands and reinUK, 1948

niggledadjectiveannoyed, irritated, especially when made so by disappointment or the pettiness of others From Cumberland dialectUK, 1878

nigglinessnounirritability; a state of being short-temperedUK, 1982

nigglingadjectivepetty, persistently irritatingUK, 1854

nigglyadjective1bad-tempered, especially about trifling concerns; irritableUK, 1840.2annoying, irritatingUK, 1840

nightnoun< it’ll be all right on the night; it will all come

right on the nightused as an optimistic reassurance that everything will be fine Originally theatrical, expressing the belief

that all will be well for the first night It’ll Be Alright on the Night, a

television programme celebrating the things that go wrong (despite its reassuring title) has been broadcast since 1977UK, 1899.

< make a night ofto spend the night in pursuit of (dissolute) pleasuresUK, 1693

night; ’nightgood night Elliptical reduction of the customary good wishes at parting or sleepUK, 1912

night and daynouna play Rhyming slangUK, 1960

night and dayadjectivegrey Rhyming slangUK, 1992

night bull

nightcapnoun1the final alcoholic drink of the nightUK, 1818.2a

marijuana cigarette, especially the last one of the day No doubt

for the relaxant properties of the drugUK, 1996.3in horse racing,

the last race of the dayUS, 1951

nightclub tannouna pale complexionUK, 1973

night cockynounin prison, a night patrolmanUK, 2000

night compassnouna chamber potCAYMAN ISLANDS, 1985

nightery; niterienouna nightclubUS, 1934

night eyenounan irregular growth on the inside of a horse’s legs,

useful as a means of identificationUS, 1938

night for nightnounin television and film-making, a scene set at

night that is also shot at nightUS, 1988

nighthawknoun1a person who is active late at nightUK, 1818.2a

taxi driver who works late at nightUS, 1868

night housenounan illegal lottery operating at nightUS, 1957

nightie; nightynouna nightgownUK, 1871

nightingalenouna police informer From theSINGmetaphorUS, 1968

night manoeuvresnouna social dateUS, 1962

nightmarenounan unpleasant experience; an unpleasant personUK,

1927

night nursenouna cigarette smoked in the middle of the night by

an addict whose body is awakened by the craving for nicotine in

the nightUS, 1996

night ridernoun1a person who enjoys the wild side of life at night

US, 1951.2in horse racing, someone who takes a horse out for a

night workout in the hope of lessening its performance in a race

the next dayUS, 1951

nights belong to Charlieused as a rule of thumb by US soldiers

in Vietnam, acknowledging the ascendancy of the Viet Cong

during the darkUS, 1990

night trainnounsuicideUS, 1984

night worknounat night, urination or defecation other than in a

toiletTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1959

nighty-night; night-night; nigh’-nigh’good night Originally

children’s vocabulary but now widely used and not always

ironicallyUK, 1896

nig inverbto sneak in without payingUK, 2003

nig-nognoun1any non-white person Rhyming slang, by virtue of

the rhyme withWOG, this racist and derogatory term is a

compound ofNIGGER(a black person) andWOG(any foreigner); it is

not always considered abusive by the speaker In Love Thy

Neighbour, a UK television comedy which ran to seven series,

1972–76, the white-skinned characters routinely called their black

neighboursSAMBO(S) and ‘nig-nogs’UK, 1959.2a fool; a novice

Military use, possibly from obsolete slang ‘nigmenog’ (a fool),

prob-ably informed by racist sentimentsUK, 1959

nigranounmarijuanaUK, 2003

-niksuffixa supporter or follower of the precedent activity or

prin-cipleUS, 1963

Nike air jerusalemnounNike Air Jordans™, a branded sport shoe

A weak pun replacing Jordan with Jerusalem, current in UK prisons

August 2002UK, 2002

Nike downverbto dress in nothing but Nike™ clothing and shoes

US, 1998

Niki Lauda; Nikinouncocaine Rhyming slang, Lauda (pronounced

‘louder’) forPOWDER, based on the name of racing driver Nikolaus

Andreas Lauda (b.1949)UK, 1985

niksnounnothing From Afrikaans into South African EnglishUK, 1860

nimbynoun1used as an acronym for ‘not in my back yard’, a

description of the philosophy of those who support an idea in

principle but do not want to be personally inconvenienced by it

The acronym followed the phrase by only a yearUS, 1980.2a

capsule of pentobarbital sodium (trade name Nembutal™), a

central nervous system depressant

nimrodnouna fool, a stupid person, a bungler Jonathan Lighter writes that ‘currency of the term owes much to its appearance in

a 1940s Warner Bros cartoon in which Bugs Bunny refers to the hunter Elmer Fudd as "poor little Nimrod"’ It is not clear that watchers of the cartoon understood the C18 sense of the word as

‘a great hunter’, but the term has stuckUS, 1932

NINAno Irish need apply US, 1987

Nina; Nina from Carolina; Nina from Pasadenanounin craps, a roll of nine or the nine pointUS, 1939

nincompoopnoun a foolish person, a simpleton In A Classical

Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 3rd edition, 1796, Francis Grose

defines ‘nincumpoop’ as ‘a foolish fellow’ and ‘one who never saw his wife’s ****’, which adds a little bite to its useUK, 1673

nineballnouna socially inept personUS, 1997

ninebarnounnine ounces of cannabisUK, 1996

nine-day bluesnounthe incubation period for gonorrheaUS, 1981

nine-nickelnounninety-fiveUS, 1998

nine of heartsnouna racehorse that is not likely to winUS, 1951

ninepennyworthnouna prison term of nine monthsUK, 1957

ninernoun1an erect penis that is nine inches longUK, 1997.2a nine gallon keg of beerAUSTRALIA, 1957

ninesnoun< to the ninesto an impressive degreeUK, 1793

nine-strand splicernounin oil drilling, a big and strong manUS, 1954

nineteennoun1amphetamines This may well derive from a shortening of the conventional phrase ‘nineteen to the dozen’ (very fast) as a play onSPEED(amphetamine)UK, 2003.2MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasyUK, 2003.3nothing at all From the game of cribbage (a hand with no points)US, 1975

nineteen canteennouna long time agoSOUTH AFRICA, 1974

nineteen-eighty cellnouna secure prison cell used for prisoners at risk to themselves or others From the official paperwork, a ‘1980 form’, which must be completed each time before such a cell may be occupiedUK, 1996

nineteenth holenouna golf course bar where golfers retire after a round of golfUS, 1901

nine-to-fivenounthe usual working day; the rut of daily existence Based on an average working day, nine in the morning to five in the afternoon, but applied to regular employment whatever the hours worked, and especially to routine drudgeryUS, 1936

nine-treynounninety-threeUS, 1993

ninetynoun1the 90-mm cannon mounted on an M-48 Patton battle tankUS, 1991.2the M-67 90-mm recoilless rifleUS, 1991

ninety daysnounin dice games, a roll of nineUS, 1909

ninety-day-wondernouna recent graduate of the US Army’s Officer Candidate SchoolUS, 1917

ninety-in-ninetynounin twelve-step recovery programmes such as Alcoholics Anonymous, used as a prescription for starting recovery – ninety meetings in ninety daysUS, 1998

ninety-ninernouna driver from Canada’s prairies driving into mountain (Alberta and British Columbia) roads for the first time

CANADA, 1989

ninety-sixnounreciprocal anal sexUS, 1949

ninety-weightnoun1any strong alcoholUS, 1976.2strong, 90-proof whiskyUS, 1976

ning nongnouna fool, an idiot Probably a variant of British dialect

ning-nang, recorded since the 1830s (English Dialect Dictionary) AUSTRALIA, 1957

ninnynoun1a fool, a doltUK, 1593.2the vagina or vulvaBAHAMAS, 1982

nipnoun1a nipple, especially a woman’s The nickname given to the character Elaine Benes (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) on

Seinfeld (NBC, 1990–98) after a snapshot that she took for a

Christmas card showed a breast nippleUS, 1965.2a small drinkUS,

1736.3in Winnipeg, a hamburgerCANADA, 1987.4a manoeuvre,

Nipnoun1a Japanese or Japanese-American person Shortened

from ‘Niponese’ Deemed offensive by Multicultural Management

Program Fellows, Dictionary of Cautionary Words and Phrases,

1989US, 1942.2a Honda car Citizens’ band radio slang for the

product of a Japanese manufacturer; a specific use of a generally

racist termUK, 1981

nipverb1(of a person) to move quicklyUK, 1825.2to grabUK, 1566.

3to open a locked door using a special pair of pliers that can

grasp the key from the other side of the doorUS, 1962.< nip itto

stop doing somethingUS, 1983

NipadjectiveJapaneseAUSTRALIA, 1946

nip and tucknouncosmetic surgeryUS, 1981

nip and tuckadjectivein a contest, neck and neck, or alternately

holding the leadUS, 1845

nip factornounthe degree of coldnessUS, 1997

nip it in the bud!used for humorously suggesting the emerging

presence of a problem A signature line of deputy Barney Fife,

played by Don Knotts, on the situation comedy Andy Griffith Show

(CBS, 1960–68) Repeated with referential humourUS, 1965

nippernoun1a baby or young childUK, 1859.2a young lad employed

to do menial tasks for a group of labourersAUSTRALIA, 1915.3a

sandflyBAHAMAS, 1982.4in target shooting, a shot that just nicks a

ring, scoring as if it had fallen within the ringUS, 1957.5a railway

brakemanUS, 1977

nippersnoun1the female breastsUS, 1968.2the teethUS, 1965.

3thickly knit gloves with no fingersCANADA, 1955.4any cutting tool

US, 1950.5a special pair of pliers that can grasp the key from the

other side of the doorUS, 1962

nippienounthe nippleUK, 1997

nipple gripple; nipple cripplenouna violent gripping and twisting

assault on someone’s (usually a male’s) nipplesUK, 2003

nipple palmnouna Nipa palm, found in swampy and marshy land

in South VietnamUS, 1984

nipplitisnoun(used of a woman) erect nipplesUS, 1997

Nippon Cliponnounthe Auckland Harbor Bridge Through Japanese

technology, the bridge was expanded from two to four lanesNEW

ZEALAND, 1976

nippyadjective1speedyUK, 1853.2chilly Almost always applied to the

weatherUS, 1898

nipsadjectiveafraid, anxious Probably fromNIP STRAWS SOUTH AFRICA ,

1977

nip slipnouna photograph revealing at least a part of a woman’s

nipple The premise is that the reveal is accidental; major usage of

the term on Internet photograph sitesUS, 2004

nip strawsverbto be nervous, anxious or afraid From the

clenching of the jaw; generally as ‘nipping straws’SOUTH AFRICA, 1970

Nirvana ScotianounNova ScotiaCANADA, 2002

nishinounthe vaginaUS, 1998

nishte; nish; nishtanoun nothing From German nichts (nothing),

via Yiddish usage ‘Nishta’ is recorded as a contemporary gay

usageUK, 1958

nishtoise; nishtoisalenounnothing A variation ofNISHTE UK , 2002

nitnouna simpleton, a moron, a fool Widespread UK term of abuse

since about 1950AUSTRALIA, 1941.< keep nitto act as lookout

while an illegal activity takes placeAUSTRALIA, 1903

nit!run for it! Used to notify wrongdoers of the approach of

auth-ority Probably a variant ofNIX AUSTRALIA , 1882

nitenounnight Generally in a commercial or advertising contextUS,

1928

nit-keepernouna lookout for an illegal activityAUSTRALIA, 1935

nit nit!be quiet!; used as a warning that someone is listening In

prison useUK, 1950

nitronouna streetlight bulbUS, 1980

nitroadjectivevolatile Derived from the unstable nature of

nitrousnounthe gas nitrous oxide used as a recreational drug

AUSTRALIA, 1994

nits and buggersnounin poker, a hand with a pair of threes and a pair of twosUS, 1967

nits and licenounin poker, a hand with two low-valued pairsUS, 1967

nitto!stop!; be quiet!; used as a general cry of warning A variation

ofNIT NIT! UK , 1959

nittyadjectiveidiotic FromNIT(a fool), possibly influenced byNUTTY

(crazy)UK, 1967

nitty-clittynounoral sex on a woman A play onCLIT(the clitoris) andNITTY-GRITTY(the essence of the matter)US, 1975

nitty-grittynounthe essence of the matter Coined by black people, then spread into wide use In the early 2000s, the belief that the term originally applied to the debris left at the bottom of slave ships when the slaves were removed from the ship circulated with speed, certainty and outrage Whether the initial report was an intentional hoax or merely basis-free speculation, it is a false etymology All authorities agree that the etymology is unknown yet some ill-informed politically correct types consider the word to have racist overtonesUS, 1956

nitwitnouna simpleton, a moron, a foolUS, 1914

nix; nicksnoun nothing; no Probably from colloquial German nichts via Dutch (colloquial Afrikaans has niks) UK, 1789

nixverbto reject, to denyUS, 1903

nixernounwork undertaken outside normal work, usually without an employer’s knowledgeIRELAND, 1994

nixienounan incorrectly addressed letter A term used by railway mail clerksUS, 1890

nixiesnouna female undergarment with a cut-out crotch permitting vaginal sex while otherwise clothedUS, 1978

Nixon’s revengenounan American Ford car Citizens’ band radio slang; a reference to US President Richard NixonUS, 1976

nizzel; nizzlenouna close friend A hip-hop, urban black coinage, formed as a rhyming reduplication ofSHIZZLE(sure, yes)US, 2001

nkalafakernouna person who is not so much to be admired as was originally thought; a confidence trickster Teen slangSOUTH AFRICA, 2003

nkalakathanouna trustworthy person Current teen slangSOUTH AFRICA, 2003

N.O.no Spelt for emphasis, usually humorousUS, 1973

no-access toolnouna light cleaning brush carried by telephone installers and repair technicians If for any reason the installer or repair technician would rather not make a particular service call, they sneak up to the door and leave a ‘sorry-we-missed-you’ tag

In jest, a fellow worker might accuse him of using a light cleaning brush to faintly tap on the doorUS, 2003

noahnouna shark Rhyming slang from ‘Noah’s ark’US, 1963

Noah’s arknoun1an informer Rhyming slang forNARK(an informer); used in England since the first decade of the C20

‘Noah’s ark’ is spoonerised into ‘oah’s nark’, which infers the deeply contemptuous ‘whore’s nark’UK, 1996.2a person who accompanies a customer but deters him or her from making a purchase Rhyming slang forNARK(an awkward customer)UK, 1979.

3a spoilsport Rhyming slang forNARK AUSTRALIA , 1898.4a park Rhyming slangUK, 1971

Noah’s arkadjectivedark Rhyming slangUK, 1934

Noah’s noblesnounfemale volunteers from the American Red Cross Korean war usage; Noah is suggested by the Red Cross initials (ARC)US, 1968

no assadverbextremely Placed after the verbGUYANA, 1996

no ass!used for expressing the serious nature of what is being said

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1974

nobnoun1a person of rank, position or wealthUK, 1703.2a completely reliable and dependable personAUSTRALIA, 1989.3the penis A variation ofKNOB UK , 1961.4the head Probably fromKNOB; since about 1690 but now feels dated and tired