A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

Nam --- colloquial shortening of Vietnam, 1969, originally among U.S. troops sent there.

namaste --- salutatory gesture, 1948, from Hindi, from Skt. namas "bowing" + te, dat. of tuam "you" (sing.). Used as a word of greeting from 1967.

namby-pamby --- 1726, satiric nickname of Eng. poet Ambrose Philips (1674-1749) mocking his sentimental pastorals addressed to infant members of the nobility. Used first in a farce credited to Carey; in general sense of "weakly sentimental, insipidly pretty" it is attested from 1745.

name --- O.E. nama, from P.Gmc. *namon (cf. O.Fris. nama, O.H.G. namo, Ger. Name, Du. naam, O.N. nafn, Goth. namo "name"), from PIE *nomn- (cf. Skt. nama, Avestan nama, Gk. onoma, onyma, L. nomen, O.C.S. ime, gen. imene, Rus. imya, O.Ir. ainm, O.Welsh anu). Meaning "one's reputation" is from c.1300. As a modifier meaning "well-known," first attested 1938. The verb is from O.E. namian. First record of namely "particularly, especially" is from c.1175. Name-calling is from 1853; name-dropper first recorded 1947. The name of the game "the essential thing or quality" is from 1966; to have one's name in lights "be a famous performer" is from 1929.

namesake --- 1646, "person named for the sake of someone" is probably originally (for the) name's sake.

nana --- child's word for "grandmother" or, sometimes, "nurse" is first recorded c.1844 (see nanny).

nance --- effeminate man, homosexual, 1904, from female name Nancy (q.v.), which was in use as an adj. meaning "effeminate" (applied to men) from 1883, a shortening of earlier Miss Nancy, perhaps from the nickname of vain, fashionable actress Miss Anna Oldfield (d.1730).

Nancy --- fem. proper name, probably a pet form of Ancy, dim. of M.E. Annis "Agnes."

nankeen --- kind of cotton cloth, 1755, from Nanking, China, where it originally was made. The city name is lit. "southern capital."

nanny --- children's nurse, 1795, from widespread child's word for "female adult other than mother" (cf. Gk. nanna "aunt"). The word also is a nickname form of the fem. proper name Anne, which probably is the sense in nanny goat (1788, cf. billy goat). The verb meaning "to be unduly protective" is from 1954. Nanny-house "brothel" is slang from c.1700.

nanosecond --- 1959, coined from Gk. nanos "dwarf" + second (n.), q.v.

Nantucket --- early forms include Natocke, Nantican, Nautican; from an obscure southern New England Algonquian word, perhaps meaning "in the middle of waters."

Naomi --- fem. proper name, biblical mother-in-law of Ruth, from Heb. Na'omi, lit. "my delight," from no'am "pleasantness, delightfulness," from stem of na'em "was pleasant, was lovely."

nap (n.) --- downy surface of cloth, 1440, from M.Du. or M.L.G. noppe "nap, tuft of wool," probably introduced by Flem. cloth-workers. Cognate with O.E. hnappian "to pluck," ahneopan "pluck off," O.Swed. niupa "to pinch," Goth. dis-hniupan "to tear."

nap (v.) --- O.E. hnappian "to doze, sleep lightly," of unknown origin, apparently related to O.H.G. hnaffezan. The noun is first attested c.1300.

Napa --- California county, perhaps from a Southern Patwin (Wiuntun) word meaning "homeland."

napalm --- 1942, from na(phthenic) palm(itic) acids, used in manufacture of the chemical that thickens gasoline. The verb is 1950, from the noun.

nape --- back of the neck, c.1300, of unknown origin, perhaps from O.Fr. hanap "a goblet," in reference to the hollow at the base of the skull.

naphtha --- inflammable liquid distilled from petroleum, 1572, from L., from Gk. naphtha "bitumen," perhaps from Pers. neft "pitch," or Aramaic naphta, nephta, but these could as well be from Gk. Naphthalene was coined 1821 by Eng. chemist John Kidd (1775-1851) from naphtha + chem. suffix -ine + -l- for the sake of euphony.

napkin --- 1420, from O.Fr. nappe "tablecloth" (from L. mappa, see map) + M.E. -kin "little."

nappy (adj.) --- downy, 1499, from nap (n.). Meaning "fuzzy, kinky," used in colloquial or derogatory ref. to the hair of black people, is from 1950.

narc (n.) --- 1967, Amer.Eng. slang, shortened form of narcotics agent (earlier narco). Had been used 1955 for narcotics hospital, 1958 for narcotics addict. Sense and spelling tending to merge with older but unrelated nark (q.v.).

narcissism --- 1905, from Ger. Narzissismus, coined 1899 by Näcke [in "Die sexuellen Perversitäten"], on a comparison first suggested 1898 by Havelock Ellis, from Gk. Narkissos, beautiful youth in mythology (Ovid, "Metamorphosis," iii.370) who fell in love with his own reflection in a spring and was turned to the flower narcissus (q.v.). First record of narcissistic is from 1916; narcissist is from 1930.

narcissus --- type of bulbous flowering plant, 1548, from L., from Gk. narkissos, probably from a pre-Gk. Aegean word, but associated with Gk. narke "numbness" (see narcotic) because of the plant's sedative effect.

narcolepsy --- 1880, from Fr. narcolepsie, coined 1880 by Fr. physician Jean-Baptiste-Édouard Gélineau (1859-1928) from comb. form of Gk. narke "numbness, stupor" (see narcotic) + lepsis "an attack, seizure."

narcosis --- 1693, "state of unconsciousness caused by a narcotic," from Mod.L., from Gk. narkosis, from narkoun "to benumb" (see narcotic).

narcotic (n.) --- c.1385, from O.Fr. adj. narcotique (1314), from M.L. narcoticum, from Gk. narkotikon, neut. of narkotikos "making stiff or numb," from narkotos, verbal adj. of narcoun "to benumb, make unconscious," from narke "numbness, stupor, cramp," perhaps from PIE base *(s)nerq- "to turn, twist." Sense of "any illegal drug" first recorded 1926, Amer.Eng. The adj. is first attested 1601.

nares --- nostrils, 1693, from L. nares, pl. of naris "nostril," from PIE base *nas- (see nose).

narghile --- oriental water pipe for smoking, 1839, from Fr. narghileh, from Persian nargileh, from nargil "cocoa-nut," of which the bowl was originally made. The Pers. word is probably from Skt. narikerah, which may be from a Dravidian source.

nark --- 1859, "to act as a police informer" (v.); 1860, "police informer" (n.), probably from Romany nak "nose," from Hindi nak, from Skt. nakra, which probably is related to Skt. nasa "nose" (see nose). Sense and spelling tending to merge with unrelated narc (q.v.).

Narragansett --- 1622, from southern New England Algonquian Naiaganset "(people) of the small point of land," containing nai- "a point or angle." Originally in reference to the native people, later to the place in Rhode Island.

narration --- 1432, from O.Fr. narration "a relating, recounting, narrating," from L. narrationem (nom. narratio), from narrare "to tell, relate, recount, explain," lit. "to make acquainted with," from gnarus "knowing," from PIE suffixed zero-grade *gne-ro-, from base *gno- "to know" (see know). Narrate is first recorded 1656, but was stigmatized as Scot. and not in general use until 19c.

narrative (adj.) --- c.1450, from M.Fr. narratif, from L.L. narrativus "suited to narration," from L. narrare (see narration). The noun meaning "a tale, story" is first recorded 1561, from the adjective. Narrator first attested 1611; in sense of "a commentator in a radio program" it is from 1941.

narrow --- O.E. nearu, from W.Gmc. *narwaz (cf. Fris. nar, O.S. naro, M.Du. nare), not found in other Gmc. languages and of unknown origin. The verb is O.E. nearwian, from the adj. Narrowly "only by a little" is attested from 1560. Narrow-minded first recorded 1625. Narrow-gauge railway is 4 feet 8.5 inches or less. The narrow seas (c.1400) were the waters between Great Britain and the continent and Ireland.

narthex --- porch at the end of early churches (used by penitents not admitted to the body of the church), 1673, from Late Gk. narthex, from Gk. narthex "giant fennel," of unknown origin. The architectural feature so called from fancied resemblance of porch to a hollow stem. The word also was used in Gk. to mean "a small case for unguents, etc."

narwhal --- 1658, from Dan. and Norw. narhval, probably a metathesis of O.N. nahvalr, lit. "corpse-whale," from na "corpse" + hvalr "whale" (see whale). So called from resemblance of whitish color to that of dead bodies. The first element is cognate with O.E. ne, neo, Goth. naus "corpse," O.Cornish naun, O.C.S. navi, O.Pruss. nowis "corpse," Lett. nawe "death," Lith. novyti "to torture, kill."

nary --- 1746, alteration of ne'er a, short for never a.

NASA --- U.S. space agency, acronym of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, set up in 1958.

nasal --- 1656, "of the nose," from Fr. nasal, from L. nasus "nose," from PIE *nas- (see nose). Of speech sounds, attested from 1669.

NASCAR --- acronym for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, U.S. auto racing promotion group founded 1948 in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR dad in U.S. political parlance, "small-town, often Southern white men who abandon traditional Democratic leanings to vote Republican at least once every four years" coined 2003 by Democratic pollster Celinda Lake.

nascent --- 1624, from L. nascentum (nom. nascens), prp. of nasci "to be born" (see genus).

Nashville --- type of country & western music, 1963, from Nashville, capital of Tennessee, where it originated. The city is named for Gen. Francis Nash (1742-1777) of North Carolina, U.S. Revolutionary War hero, killed at the Battle of Germantown. The surname is attested from 1296 in Sussex Subsidy Rolls, atten Eysse, atte Nasche (with assimilation of -n- from a preposition; see N), meaning "near an ash tree," or "near a place called Ash."

nasturtium --- c.1150, "plant like watercress," from L. nasturtium "cress;" the popular etymology explanation of the name (Pliny) is that it is from L. *nasitortium, lit. "nose-twist," from nasus "nose" + pp. of torquere "to twist" (see thwart); the plant so called for its pungent odor. Modern application to S.Amer. trailing plant with orange flowers first recorded 1704.

nasty --- c.1400, "foul, filthy, dirty, unclean," perhaps from O.Fr. nastre "bad, strange," shortened form of villenastre "infamous, bad," from vilein "villain" + -astre, pejorative suffix, from L. -aster. Alternate etymology is from Du. nestig "dirty," lit. "like a bird's nest." Likely reinforced by a Scand. source (cf. Swed. dial. naskug "dirty, nasty"). Of weather, from 1634; of things generally, "unpleasant, offensive," from 1705. Of people, "ill-tempered," from 1825.

natal --- c.1374, from L. natalis "pertaining to birth or origin," from natus, pp. of nasci "to be born" (see genus).

Natalie --- fem. proper name, from Fr. Natalie, from Eccles. L. Natalia, from L. (dies) natalis "birthday," in Church L., "Christmas Day," so probably originally a name for one born on Christmas.

natatorium --- 1890, New Englandish word for "swimming pool," from L. natator "swimmer" (from nare "to swim") + -ium, neut. suffix. Latin nare is from PIE *sna- "to swim, to flow" (cf. Arm. nay "wet, liquid;" Gk. notios "damp, moist," nao "I flow;" Skt. snati "bathes;" M.Ir. snaim "I swim;" and probably also Gk. nesos "island," from *na-sos, lit. "that which swims").

natch --- colloquial shortening of naturally, first recorded 1945.

Nathan --- masc. proper name, biblical prophet, from Heb. Nathan, lit. "he has given," from verb nathan, related to mattan "gift."

Nathaniel --- masc. proper name, from L.L. Nathanael, from Gk. Nathanael, from Heb. Nethan'el, lit. "God has given."

nation --- c.1300, from O.Fr. nacion, from L. nationem (nom. natio) "nation, stock, race," lit. "that which has been born," from natus, pp. of nasci "be born" (see native). Political sense has gradually taken over from racial meaning "large group of people with common ancestry." Older sense preserved in application to N.Amer. Indian peoples (1650). Nationality "the fact of belonging to a particular nation" is from 1828. Nation-building first attested 1907 (implied in nation-builder). National is from 1597; national anthem first recorded 1819, in Shelley. Nationalize "bring under state control" is from 1869.

nationalist --- one devoted to his nation, 1715, from national in a now obsolete sense of "patriotic" (1711), from nation (q.v.). Nationalism in this sense first recorded 1844; earlier it was used in a theological sense of "the doctrine of divine election of nations" (1836).

native (adj.) --- c.1374, from O.Fr. natif (fem. native), from L. nativus "innate, produced by birth," from natus, pp. of nasci, gnasci "be born," related to gignere "beget," from PIE base *gen-/*gn- "produce" (see genus). The noun is c.1450, originally meaning "person born in bondage," later (1535) "person who has always lived in a place." Applied from 1652 to original inhabitants of non-European nations where Europeans hold political power; hence, used contemptuously of "the locals" from 1800. Nativism as a U.S. anti-immigrant movement is from 1845.

nativity --- c.1122, from O.Fr. nativité "birth" (12c.), from L.L. nativitatem (nom. nativitas) "birth," from L. nativus "born, native" (see native). Late O.E. had nativiteð, from earlier O.Fr. nativited.

NATO --- acronym of North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which was set up in 1949.

natter --- grumble, fret, 1829, northern England dialect variant of gnatter "to chatter, grumble," earlier (18c.) "to nibble away," probably of echoic origin.

natterjack --- 1769, rare kind of toad with a yellow stripe on its back; second element probably proper name jack (q.v.); for first element, Weekley suggests connection with attor "poison" (cf. attercop).

natty --- 1785, "neat, smart," originally slang, perhaps an altered form of 16c. nettie "neat, natty," from M.E. net "pure, fine, elegant" (see neat).

natural --- c.1300, naturel, "of one's inborn character, of the world of nature (especially as opposed to man)," from O.Fr. naturel, from L. naturalis "by birth, according to nature," from natura "nature" (see nature). Meaning "easy, free from affectation" is attested from 1607. As a euphemism for "illegitimate, bastard" (of children), it is first recorded 1586, on notion of blood kinship (but not legal status). The noun sense of "person with a natural gift or talent" is first attested 1925, originally in prizefighting. Natural-born first attested 1583. Natural order "apparent order in nature" is from 1697. Natural childbirth first attested 1933. Natural life, usually in ref. to the duration of life, is from 1483. Natural history is from 1567 (see history).

naturalist --- student of plants and animals, 1600, from natural (q.v.).

naturalize --- admit (an alien) to rights of a citizen, 1559 (implied in naturalized), from natural (q.v.) in its etymological sense of "by birth."

naturally --- as might be expected, 1641, from natural (q.v.). The notion is "as a natural result."

nature --- c.1300, "essential qualities, innate disposition," also "creative power in the material world," from O.Fr. nature, from L. natura "course of things, natural character, the universe," lit. "birth," from natus "born," pp. of nasci "to be born," from PIE *gene- "to give birth, beget" (see genus). Original sense is in human nature. Meaning "inherent, dominating power or impulse" of a person or thing is from c.1386. Contrasted with art since 1704. Nature and nurture have been contrasted since 1874.

Naugahyde --- trademark name patented (U.S.) Dec. 7, 1937, by United States Rubber Products Inc., for an artificial leather made from fabric base treated with rubber, etc. From Naugatuk, rubber-making town in Connecticut, + hyde, an arbitrary variant of hide (n.).

naught --- O.E. nawiht "nothing," lit "no whit," from na "no" (from PIE base *ne- "no, not;" see un- (1)) + wiht "thing, creature, being" (see wight).

naughty --- 1377, naugti "needy, having nothing," from O.E. nawiht (see naught). Sense of "wicked, evil, morally wrong" is attested from 1529. The more tame main modern sense of "disobedient" (especially of children) is attested from 1633. A woman of bad character c.1530-1750 might be called a naughty pack.

nausea --- 1569, from L. nausea "seasickness," from Ionic Gk. nausia (Attic nautia) "seasickness, nausea," from naus "ship" (see naval).

nauseate --- 1640, "to feel sick, to become affected with nausea," from pp. stem of L. nauseare, see nausea. In its early life it also had transitive senses of "to reject (food, etc.) with a feeling of nausea" (1646) and "to create a loathing in" (1654). Careful writers use nauseated for "sick at the stomach" and reserve nauseous (q.v.) for "sickening to contemplate."

nauseous --- 1604, "inclined to nausea, easily made queasy," from nausea (q.v.). Sense of "causing nausea or squeamishness" is attested from 1612. For distinction from nauseate see that word.

nautical --- 1552, from M.Fr. nautique, from L. nauticus "pertaining to ships or sailors," from Gk. nautikos, from nautes "sailor," from naus "ship," from PIE *nau- "boat" (see naval).

nautilus --- marine cephalopod, 1601, from L. nautilus, in Pliny a kind of marine snail (including also squid, cuttlefish, polyps, etc.), from Gk. nautilos, "paper nautilus," lit. "sailor," from nautes "sailor," from naus "ship" (see naval). The cephalopod was formerly thought to use its webbed arms as sails.

Navajo --- Athabaskan people and language, 1780, from Sp. Apaches de Nabaju (1629), from Tewa (Tanoan) Navahu, said to mean lit. "large field" or "large planted field," containing nava "field" and hu "valley." Sp. Navajo was used 17c. in ref. to the area now in northwestern New Mexico.

naval --- 1602, from L. navalis "pertaining to a ship or ships," from navis "ship," from PIE *nau- "boat" (cf. Skt. nauh, acc. navam "ship, boat;" Arm. nav "ship;" Gk. naus "ship," nautes "sailor;" O.Ir. nau "ship;" Welsh noe "a flat vessel;" O.N. nor "ship").

nave (1) --- main part of a church, 1673, from Sp. or It. nave, from M.L. navem (nom. navis) "nave of a church," from L. navis "ship" (see naval), on some fancied resemblance in shape.

nave (2) --- hub of a wheel, O.E. nafu, from P.Gmc. *nabo-, perhaps connected with the root of navel (q.v.) on notion of centrality (cf. L. umbilicus "navel," also "the end of a roller of a scroll," Gk. omphalos "navel," also "the boss of a shield").

navel --- O.E. nafela, from P.Gmc. *nabalan (cf. O.N. nafli, O.Fris. navla, M.Du. navel, O.H.G. nabalo, Ger. Nabel), from PIE *(o)nobh- "navel" (cf. Skt. nabhila "navel, nave, relationship;" Avestan nafa "navel," naba-nazdishta "next of kin;" Pers. naf; O.Prus. nabis "navel;" Gk. omphalos; O.Ir. imbliu). Cf. also L. umbilicus "navel," source of Sp. ombligo and O.Fr. lombril, lit. "the navel," from l'ombril, which by dissimilation became modern Fr. nombril (12c.). "Navel" words from other roots include Lith. bamba, Skt. bimba- (also "disk, sphere"), Gk. bembix, lit. "whirlpool." O.C.S. papuku, Lith. pumpuras are originally "bud." Considered a feminine sexual center since ancient times, and still in parts of the Middle East, India, and Japan. Even in medieval Europe, it was averred that "[t]he seat of wantonness in women is the navel." [Cambridge bestiary, C.U.L. ii.4.26] Words for it in most languages have a secondary sense of "center." Meaning "center or hub of a country" is attested in Eng. from 1382. To contemplate (one's) navel "meditate" is from 1933; hence navel-gazer (1952). Navel orange attested from 1888.

navigation --- 1533, from L. navigationem (nom. navigatio), from navigatus, pp. of navigare "to sail, sail over, go by sea, steer a ship," from navis "ship" (see naval) + root of agere "to drive" (see act). Navigable is attested from 1527; navigate is a back-formation, first attested 1588; later extended to balloons (1784) and aircraft.

navigator --- 1590, "one who navigates," from L. navigator "sailor," from navigatus (see navigation). Meaning "laborer employed in excavating a canal" is 1775, from sense in inland navigation "communication by canals and rivers" (1727).

navvy --- 1832, "laborer on a canal or railroad," colloquial shortening of navigator (q.v.) in its sense of "one who digs navigation canals."

navy --- c.1330, "fleet of ships, especially for purposes of war," from O.Fr. navie "fleet, ship," from L. navigia, pl. of navigium "vessel, boat," from navis "ship" (see naval). Meaning "a nation's collective, organized sea power" is from 1540. The O.E. words were sciphere (usually of Viking invaders) and scipfierd (usually of the home defenses). Navy blue was the color of the British naval uniform.

nay --- word of negation, c.1175, from O.N. nei, compound of ne "not" (see un-) + ei "ever." Nay-say "refusal" is from 1631.

Nazarene --- c.1275, "a native or resident of Nazareth" town in Lower Galilee, childhood home of Jesus, from Heb. Natzerath. In Talmudic Heb. notzri, lit. "of Nazareth," meant "a Christian;" likewise Arabic Nasrani (pl. Nasara). In Christian use, however, it can be a nickname for Jesus, or refer to an early Jewish Christian sect, or, in modern use, to a member of the Church of the Nazarene, a U.S.-based Protestant denomination (1898 in this sense).

Nazi --- 1930, from Ger. Nazi, abbreviation of Ger. pronunciation of Nationalsozialist (based on earlier Ger. sozi, popular abbreviaton of "socialist"), from Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei "National Socialist German Workers' Party," led by Hitler from 1920. The 24th edition of Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache (2002) says the word Nazi was favored in southern Germany (supposedly from c.1924) among opponents of National Socialism because the nickname Nazi (from the masc. proper name Ignatz, Ger. form of Ignatius) was used colloquially to mean "a foolish person, clumsy or awkward person." Ignatz was a popular name in Catholic Austria, and according to one source in WWI Nazi was a generic name in the German Empire for the soldiers of Austria-Hungary. An older use of Nazi for national-sozial is attested in Ger. from 1903, but EWdS does not think it contributed to the word as applied to Hitler and his followers. The NSDAP for a time attempted to adopt the Nazi designation as what the Germans call a "despite-word," but they gave this up, and the NSDAP is said to have generally avoided the term. Before 1930, party members had been called in Eng. National Socialists, which dates from 1923. The use of Nazi Germany, Nazi regime, etc., was popularized by German exiles abroad. From them, it spread into other languages, and eventually brought back to Germany, after the war. In the USSR, the terms national socialist and Nazi were said to have been forbidden after 1932, presumably to avoid any taint to the good word socialist. Soviet literature refers to fascists.

ne plus ultra --- utmost limit to which one can go, 1638, from L., lit. "no more beyond," traditionally inscribed on the Pillars of Hercules.

Neanderthal --- 1861, from Ger. Neanderthal "Neander Valley," gorge near Düsseldorf where humanoid fossils were identified in 1856. The place name is from the Graecized form of Joachim Neumann (lit. "new man," Gk. *neo-ander), 1650-1680, Ger. pastor, poet and hymn-writer, who made this a favorite spot in the 1670s. Adopting a classical form of one's surname was a common practice among educated Germans in this era.

neap --- O.E. nepflod "neap flood," the tide occurring at the end of the first and third quarters of the lunar month, in which high waters are at their lowest, of unknown origin, with no known cognates (Dan. niptid probably is from English). Original sense seems to be "without power."

Neapolitan --- 1412, "native or resident of Naples," lit. "of Naples," preserving the Gk. name of the city, Neapolis "New City," from nea, fem. of neos "new" (see neo-) + polis "city" (see policy (1)). Meaning "ice cream of three layers and flavors" is from 1895. In early 18c., Neapolitan consolation meant "syphilis."

near --- O.E. near "closer, nearer," comp. of neah, neh "nigh." Influenced by O.N. naer "near," it came to be used as a positive form c.1250, and new comp. nearer developed 1500s (see nigh). Originally an adv., but now supplanted in most such senses by nearly; it has in turn supplanted correct nigh as an adjective. In near and dear (1621) it refers to nearness of kinship. Verb meaning "to draw near" is attested from 1513. Nearly (1540) originally meant "carefully;" sense of "almost, all but" is from 1683. Near by "close at hand" is from c.1375. Near East first attested 1891, in Kipling. Near-sighted is from 1686. Near beer "low-alcoholic brew" is from 1909.