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 Neptune's Bodyguard, subs. phr. (military).—The Royal Marines. Also "The Little Grenadiers," "The Jollies," "The Globe Rangers" and "The Admiral's Regiment."

Nerve, subs. (old).—1. See quot.

1753. Adventurer, No. 98. I am, in short, one of those heroic Adventurers, who have thought proper to distinguish themselves by the titles of Buck, Blood, and Nerve.

2. (common).—Impudence; cheek.

1899. Critic, 21 Jan., 12, 2. How Messrs Gordon and Levett can have the nerve to refer to the evidence given at the Royal Commission on Money-lending in one sentence and in the other boldly proclaim that they charge from 60 to 108 per cent. per annum interest to borrowers, passes my comprehension.

Nervous-cane, subs. phr. (venery).—The penis (Urquhart). For synonyms, see Creamstick, Prick.

Nescio. To sport a nescio. verb. phr., 1823 (old University).—See quot.

b.1670. J. Hacket, Abp. Williams, ii., 94, 97 (1693) But as our Cambridge term is, he was staid with nescio's.

1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [Egan], s.v. Nescio. He sports a Nescio; he pretends not to understand anything. After the senate-house examination for degrees, the students proceed to the schools to be questioned by the proctor. According to custom immemorial the answers must be Nescio. The following is a translated specimen: Q. What is your name? A. I do not know. Q. What is the name of this University? A. I do not know. Q. Who was your father? A. I do not know. The last is probably the only true answer of the three.

Nest, subs. (venery: American).—1. The female pudendum: also the nest in the bush: see Monosyllable. Hence, to have an egg in the nest = to be pregnant; nest-hiding = illicit intercourse (attributed to Henry Ward Beecher); nest-hunting = grousing (q.v.) or fornicating.

1782. Stevens, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 124. Here's the nest in that bush, and the bird-nesting lover.

d.1796. Burns, The Court of Equity, [Farmer, Merry Songs and Ballads (1897), iv., 284]. And yet, ye loon, ye still protest, Ye never herried Maggy's nest.

2. in pl. (thieves').—See quot.

1851-61. H. Mayhew, London Lab., etc., i., 231. List of patterer's words. Nests—Varieties.

3. (colloquial).—A place: as of residence; a centre: as of activity; a gang: as of thieves.

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, v., 3. Come from that nest of death.

1596. Spenser, Fairie Queene, iv., v., 32. They spied a little cottage, like some poor man's nest.

1604. Shakspeare, Winter's Tale, ii., 3. A nest of traitors.

1728. Bailey, Dict., Nest an Harbour for Thieves and Pirates.

1847. Tennyson, Princess, v., 416. We seem a nest of traitors—none to trust.

Verb. (old).—To defecate.

1670. Mod. Act. Scotland. To nest upon the stairs.

See also Feather.

Nest-cock (Nescock or Nestle-Cock), subs. (colloquial).—See quot. 1775.

1662. Fuller, Worthies, ii., 55. One made a wanton or a nestle cock of.

1775. Ash, Dict., s.v. Nestcock (a Cant word). A tenderling, a fondling. 1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.

Nest-egg, subs. (colloquial).—Money saved; a little hoard.