N.
Nab.—To catch or seize. Nabbed, caught.
Nabob.—Corruption of the Hindoo word Nawâb. An administrator, commander, and other high officers under the Mogul empire. These men acquired great wealth and lived in Eastern splendour, so that they gave rise to the phrase, “Rich as a Nawâb,” corrupted into Rich as a Nabob. In England we apply the phrase to a merchant who has obtained great wealth in the Indies, and has returned to live—and die in his native country.
Nail.—To prig, or to capture. I nailed him on the spot. To pay down on the Nail, to pay ready money on the counter—which was often studded over with nails.
Naked Truth.—The fable says that Truth and Falsehood went bathing: Falsehood came first out of the water, and dressed herself in Truth’s garments, Truth, unwilling to take those of Falsehood, went naked.
Nap.—To catch, to grasp.
Napping.—To be taken in the act, especially in adultery. “To catch napping—Rem in re.”
Napping your Bib.—Crying, and wiping your eyes with an apron.
Nappy Ale.—Strong ale is so called either because it makes one nappy, or else because it contains a nap or frothy head.
Nash.—To throw away. Nash your leading strings, throw off all restraint.
Natty.—Tidy, methodical and neat. Natty Lads, young pickpockets.
Needful.—Money. To show the Needful, to produce the money.
Never-wag Man of War.—The Fleet Prison.
Nibble.—To steal.
Nob.—Head. Nobbed, thumped on the head.
Nob Thatchers.—Straw bonnet makers, also wig makers.
Nod.—He’s gone to the land of Nod, i.e., he’s gone to bed.
Noodle.—An ass of the human species.
Nose.—An informer. Out on the nose, a night search.
Nun.—A mealy mouthed prostitute.
Nurses.—Guardians, tutors, &c.
Nutty.—To be nuts upon, is to be very much pleased or gratified with any thing: thus, a person who conceives a strong inclination for another of the opposite sex is said to be quite nutty upon him or her.
Who on a lark, with black-eyed Sal (his blowing)
So prime, so swell, so nutty, and so knowing.
Byron’s Don Juan.