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 1851-61. Mayhew, Lon. Lab., &c., iii., 153. I always come on to that scene with a white night-cap and a halter on my arm.

1884. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, iv., 9. [Three Plays, 62]. The gallows How's a man to die with a night-cap on.

3. (old).—See Night-bird.

4. (common).—A wife: see Dutch.

Nightingale, subs. (military).—1. See quot.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [Egan], s.v. Nightingale. A soldier who, as the term is, sings out at the halberts. It is a point of honour in some regiments, among the grenadiers never to cry out, or become nightingales, whilst under the discipline of the cat of nine tails; to avoid which, they chew a bullet.

2. (common).—A prostitute. See Barrack-hack and Tart.

3. See Spithead, Cambridgeshire, and Arcadian Nightingale.

Night-liner, subs. phr. (American).—A night-walking cab: cf. Owl-train.

Nighty (or Nightie), subs. (colloquial).—A night-dress.

Nigit (or Nidget), subs. (old).—A fool. See Buffle, and Cabbage-head.—B. E. (c. 1696); New Cant. Dict. (1725); Bailey (1728); Matsell (1859).

d.1623. Camden, Works [Johnson]. There was one true English word of greater force than them all, now out of all use; it signifieth no more than abject, base-minded, false-hearted, coward, or nidget.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Nigit, a fool, seemingly a corruption and contraction of the words an idiot.

1867. Smyth, Sailors' Word-book, 497, s.v. Nidget. A coward. A term used in old times for those who refused to join the royal standard.

Nigler (or Niggler), subs. (old).—1. A clipper of money; a sweater (q.v.). See Nig.—B. E. (1696); Grose (1785).

2. (venery).—A practical amorist: cf. niggle, sense 1; a performer (q.v.).

1659. Lady Alimony, ii., 5. This was a bold-faced niggler.

3. (old).—See quot.

1796. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Nigler. One who is clever and dextrous.

Nihil-ad-rem, adj. phr. (Winchester College).—Vague; unconscious: e.g., 'He sported nihil-ad-rem duck.'

Nikin, subs. (old).—See quots.

1725. Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Nikin. A Natural, or very soft creature; also Isaac.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Nickin, nikey or nizey.

Nil, adj. (common).—Half; half profits, etc.

Nilly-willy, adv. (old).—Nill ye, will ye, whether you will or no. [A familiar version of the Latin, nolens-volens, Generally written now, willy-nilly].

Nim, verb (old).—To seize, take, or steal; to nab (q.v.). [A. S., niman = to take]. Whence nimmer = a thief, and nimming = theft, robbery.

1350. Will, of P. [E. E. T. S., 51, 1364]. How William went to here foos, & dede deliuerly nym the duk.

1369. Chaucer, Troilus, i., 242. Men reden not that folk han gretter witte Than they that han ben most with love ynome.

[?]. Harl. MS., 1701, f. 44. Goddes aungeles the soule nam And bare hyt ynto the bosum of Abraham.