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

nipple --- 1538, nyppell, alt. of neble, probably dim. of O.E. neb "bill, beak, snout" (see neb), hence, lit. "a small projection."

Nipponese --- Japanese, 1859, from Nippon, Japanese word for "Japan," from ni(chi) "the sun" + pon, hon "source," which is said to be from Chinese for "rising sun-place." Derisive slang shortening Nip attested from 1942.

nirvana --- 1836, from Skt. nirvana-s "extinction, disappearance" (of the individual soul into the universal), lit. "to blow out, a blowing out" ("not transitively, but as a fire ceases to draw;" a literal Latinization would be de-spiration), from nis-, nir- "out" + va "to blow" (see wind (n.)).

nisei --- American born of Japanese parents, 1943, from Jap. ni- "second" + sei "generation."

nit --- O.E. hnitu "louse egg, nit," from P.Gmc. *khnito (cf. Norw. nit, M.Du. nete, Du. neet, M.H.G. niz, Ger. Niß), related to Rus., Pol. gnida, Czech knida, Gk. konid-. Verb nit-pick is first attested 1962, from earlier nitpicker "pedantic critic" (1951).

nite --- arbitrary respelling of night, attested from 1931.

nitrogen --- 1794, from Fr. nitrogène, coined 1790 by Fr. chemist Jean Antoine Chaptal (1756-1832), from comb. form of Gk. nitron "sodium carbonate" (from Egyptian ntr) + Fr. gène "producing." The gas was discovered in analysis of nitric acid. Earlier name (1772) was mephitic air. The word nitre was in use in late M.E. for "potassium nitrate, saltpetre" (c.1400).

nitroglycerine --- explosive oily liquid, 1857, from nitro-, comb. form of nitric acid + glycerine. So called because it was obtained by treating glycerine with nitric and sulfuric acids.

nitty-gritty --- basic facts, 1961, knitty-gritty, Amer.Eng., said to have been chiefly used by black jazz musicians, perhaps ult. from nit and grits "finely ground corn."

nitwit --- 1922, from nit "nothing," from Ger. dial. or Yiddish, from M.L.G. (see nix) + wit.

nix --- nothing, none, 1789, from Ger. nix, dial. variant of nichts "nothing," from M.H.G. nihtes, from gen. of niht, nit "nothing," from O.H.G. niwiht, from ni, ne "no" + wiht "thing, creature" (cf. naught). The verb is attested from 1903.

nixie --- water fairy, 1816 (introduced by Sir Walter Scott), from Ger. Nixie, from O.H.G. nihhussa "water sprite," fem. of nihhus, from P.Gmc. *nikwiz- (cf. O.N. nykr, O.E. nicor "water spirit, water monster," also used to gloss hippopotamus; Grendel's mother in "Beowulf" was a nicor), perhaps from PIE *nigw- (cf. Skt. nenkti "washes," Gk. nizo "I wash," O.Ir. nigid "washes").

no --- negative reply, c.1225, from O.E. na (adv.) "never, no," from ne "not, no" + a "ever," from P.Gmc. *ne (cf. O.N., O.Fris., O.H.G. ne, Goth. ni "not"), from PIE base *ne- "no, not" (see un-). Second element from PIE *aiw- "vital force, life, long life, eternity" (see aye (2)). As an adj. meaning "not any" (c.1200) it is reduced from O.E. nan (see none), the final -n omitted first before consonants and then altogether. No-no (n.) first attested 1942. No problem as an interjection of assurance, first attested 1963. Phrase no can do "it is not possible" is attested from 1914.

no-account --- worthless, 1845, Amer.Eng., lit. "of no account" (see account). Contracted form no'count is attested from 1853.

Noah --- masc. proper name, from Heb. Noah, lit. "rest." Noachian, in ref. to the flood legend, is from 1678.

nob --- head, c.1700, variant of knob (q.v.).

Nobel --- 1900, in ref. to five prizes (in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace) established in the will of Alfred Nobel (1833-96), Swed. chemist and engineer, inventor of dynamite. A sixth prize, in economics, was added in 1969.

nobility --- 1398, "quality of being excellent or rare," from O.Fr. nobilite (Fr. nobilité), from L. nobilitatem (nom. nobilitas) "nobleness," from nobilis "well-known, prominent" (see noble). Meaning "quality of being of noble rank or birth" is attested from c.1440; sense of "noble class collectively" is from 1530.

noble --- c.1225, "illustrious, distinguished, worthy of honor or respect," from O.Fr. noble, from L. nobilis "well-known, famous, renowned, of superior birth," earlier gnobilis, lit. "knowable," from gnoscere "to come to know," from PIE base *gno- (see know). The prominent Roman families, which were "well known," provided most of the Republic's public officials. Meaning "distinguished by rank, title, or birth" is first recorded 1297. Sense of "having lofty character, having high moral qualities" is from 1601. The noble gases (1902) so called for their inactivity or interness; a use of the word that had been applied in M.E. to precious stones, metals, etc., of similar quality (c.1390), from the sense of "having admirable properties" (c.1305).

noblesse --- c.1225, "noble birth or condition," from O.Fr. noblece (Fr. noblesse), from V.L. *nobilitia, from L. nobilis (see noble). Fr. phrase noblesse oblige "privilege entails responsibility" is first attested in Eng. 1837.

nobodaddy --- c.1793, William Blake's derisive name for the anthropomorphic God of Christianity.

nobody --- 1338, no body, from M.E. no (adj.) "not any" + bodi "body." Written as two words 14c.-18c.; hyphenated 17c.-18c. Incorrect use with their is attested from 1548.

nock --- notch on a bow, 1398, probably from a Scand. source (cf. Swed. nock "notch"), but cf. also Low Ger. nokk, Du. nok "tip of a sail."

nocturn --- a division of the office of matins, c.1225, from M.L. nocturna, "group of Psalms used in the nocturns," from L. nocturnus (see nocturnal).

nocturnal --- 1485, from M.Fr. nocturnal, from L.L. nocturnalis, from L. nocturnus "belonging to the night," from nox (gen. noctis) "night," cognate with O.E. neaht (see night) + -urnus, suffix forming adjectives of time. Nocturnal emission "involuntary ejaculation during sleep" first recorded 1821.

nocturne --- 1862, "composition of a dreamy character," from Fr. nocturne, lit. "composition appropriate to the night," noun use of O.Fr. nocturne "nocturnal," from L. nocturnus (see nocturnal). Said to have been coined c.1814 by John Field, who wrote many of them, in a style that Chopin mastered in his own works, which popularized the term.

nod (v.) --- to quickly bow the head, c.1386, of unknown origin, probably an O.E. word, but not recorded; perhaps related to O.H.G. hnoton "to shake," from P.Gmc. *khnudojanan. The noun is first attested 1540. Meaning "to drift in and out of consciousness while on drugs" is attested from 1968.

node --- 1572, "a knot or complication," from L. nodus "knot." Originally borrowed c.1400 in L. form, meaning "lump in the flesh." Meaning "point of intersection" (originally of planetary orbits with the ecliptic) first recorded 1665.

nodule --- 1600, from L. nodulus "small knot," dim. of nodus "knot."

Noel --- c.1390, from M.E. nowel, from O.Fr. noel "the Christmas season," var. of nael, from L. natalis (dies) "birth (day)," in Eccles. L. in reference to the birthday of Christ, from natus, pp. of nasci "be born."

no-fault (adj.) --- as a type of U.S. motor vehicle insurance, attested from 1967.

no-frills (adj.) --- first attested 1960 (see frill).

noggin --- 1630, "small cup, mug," later "small drink" (1693), of unknown origin, possibly related to Norfolk dial. nog "strong ale" (now chiefly in eggnog). Informal meaning "head" first attested 1866 in Amer.Eng.

no-go --- phrase for an impracticable situation, first attested 1870.

no-good (adj.) --- 1908, from phrase no good "good for nothing." As a noun, first recorded 1924; variant no-goodnik (see -nik) first attested 1960.

Noh --- traditional Japanese masked drama, 1871, from Japanese, lit. "ability, talent, function." Dramatic form also known as nogaku, with gaku "music."

no-hitter --- baseball term for game in which one side fails to make a hit, first attested 1948.

nohow --- not at all, 1775, Amer.Eng., from no + how, on model of nowhere.

noise --- c.1225, "loud outcry, clamor, shouting," from O.Fr. noise "uproar, brawl" (in modern Fr. only in phrase chercher noise "to pick a quarrel"), apparently from L. nausea "disgust, annoyance, discomfort," lit. "seasickness" (see nausea). Another theory traces the O.Fr. word to L. noxia "hurting, injury, damage." OED considers that "the sense of the word is against both suggestions," but nausea could have developed a sense in V.L. of "unpleasant situation, noise, quarrel" (cf. O.Prov. nauza "noise, quarrel"). Replaced native gedyn (see din).

noisome --- 1382, "harmful, noxious," from noye "harm, misfortune," shortened form of anoi "annoyance" (from O.Fr. anoier, see annoy) + -some. Meaning "bad-smelling" first recorded 1577.

nole contendere --- 1872, from L., lit. "I do not wish to contend."

noli me tangere --- 1398, "type of facial ulcer, lupus," from L., lit. "touch me not," from noli, imperative of nolle "to be unwilling" + me (see me) + tangere "to touch" (see tangent). Used over the years of various persons or things that must not be touched, esp. "picture of Jesus as he appeared to Mary Magdalene" (1680) and "plant of the genus Impatiens" (1563, so called because the ripe seed pods burst when touched).

nolle prosequi --- formal notice to a plaintiff that the prosecutor will not continue a suit, 1681, from L., lit. "to be unwilling to pursue." The verb nolle-pross is attested from 1880.

nom --- Fr., "name," from L. nomen (see name). Used in various phrases, e.g. nom de guerre (1679), name used by a person engaged in some action, lit. "war name;" nom de plume (1823), lit. "pen name;" nom de théâtre (1874) "stage name."

nomad --- 1555, from M.Fr. nomade, from L. Nomas (gen. Nomadis) "wandering groups in Arabia," from Gk. nomas (gen. nomados, pl. nomades) "roaming, roving, wandering" (to find pastures for flocks or herds), related to nomos "pasture," lit. "land allotted," and to nemein "put to pasture," originally "deal out," from PIE base *nem- "to divide, distribute, allot" (see nemesis).

no-man's-land --- terrain between front lines of entrenched armies, 1908, popularized in WWI; in use from at least 1320 as Nonemanneslond, an unowned waste ground outside the north wall of London, site for executions. No man (O.E. nanne mon) was an old way of saying "nobody."

nomenclature --- 1610, "a name," from Fr. nomenclature, from L. nomenclatura "calling of names," from nomenclator "namer," from nomen "name" + calator "caller, crier," from calare "call out" (see calendar). Nomenclator in Rome was the title of a steward whose job was to announce visitors, and also of a prompter who helped a stumping politician recall names and pet causes of his constituents. Meaning "list or catalogue of names" first attested 1635; that of "system of naming" is from 1664; sense of "terminology of a science" is from 1789.

nominal --- c.1430, "pertaining to nouns," from L. nominalis "pertaining to a name or names," from nomen (gen. nominis) "name," cognate with O.E. nama (see name). Meaning "of the nature of names" (in distinction to things) is from 1620. Meaning "being so in name only" first recorded 1624.

nomination --- c.1412, "act of mentioning by name," from L. nominationem (nom. nominatio), from nominare "to name," from nomen (gen. nominis) "name" (see name). Meaning "fact of being proposed as a candidate" is attested from 1494. Nominate is a back-formation, attested from 1545 in the sense "to call by name," from 1601 with the meaning "to propose for election." Nominee is first attested 1664.

nominative --- 1387, "grammatical case dealing with the subject of a verb," from M.Fr. nominatif, from L. nominativus "pertaining to naming," from nominatus, pp. of nominare (see nominate).

non- --- prefix meaning "not, lack of," or "sham," 14c., from Anglo-Fr. noun-, from O.Fr. non-, from L. non "not, not a," from Old L. noenum "not one" (*ne oinom). In some cases perhaps from M.E. non "not" (adj.), from O.E. nan (see not).

non compos mentis --- 1607, from L., lit. "not master of one's mind."

non sequitur --- 1533, from L., lit. "it does not follow."

nonage --- 1399, "state of not being of age," from O.Fr. nonage, from non- + age.

nonagenarian --- 1804, coined in Eng. from L. nonagenarius "containing ninety" (in L.L. "someone ninety years old"), from nonagen "ninety each," from nonus "ninth" (see nones).

non-aggression --- 1903, "absence of warlike intentions among nations," from non- + aggression.

non-aligned --- 1960 in geopolitical sense. Non-alignment in this sense is attested from 1934.

no-name (adj.) --- 1979, "not having made a name in one's profession," originally Amer.Eng. sporting jargon.

nonce --- abstracted from phrase for þe naness (c.1200) "for a special occasion, for a particular purpose," itself a misdivision of for þan anes "for the one," in reference to a particular occasion or purpose, the þan being from O.E. dative def. article þam. The phrase used from c.1315 as an empty filler in metrical composition. Hence, nonce-word "word coined for a special occasion," 1954.

nonchalance --- 1678, from Fr. nonchalant, prp. of nonchaloir "be indifferent to, have no concern for" (13c.), from non- "not" + chaloir "have concern for," ult. from L. calere "be hot" (see calorie). Fr. chaland "customer, client" is of the same origin.

non-com --- 1747, short for non-commissioned officer.

non-combatant --- 1811, from non- + combatant. First recorded in writings of Wellington.

non-committal (adj.) --- 1829, "characterized by refusal to commit oneself," from non- + committal.

non-compliance --- 1687, from non- + compliance.

nonconformity --- 1618, coined in Eng., originally of Church of England clergymen who refused to conform on certain ceremonies. Nonconformist is from 1619, in the religious sense; after their ejection under the Act of Uniformity (1662) the name passed to the separate churches they joined or formed. General sense of "one who does not participate in a practice or course of action" is from 1677.

nondescript --- 1683, "not hitherto described," in scientific usage, coined from non- + L. descriptus, pp. of describere (see describe). Sense of "not easily described or classified" is from 1806.

none --- O.E. nan "not one, not any," from ne "not" (see no) + an "one." Cognate with O.S., M.L.G. nen, O.N. neinn, M.Du., Du. neen, O.H.G., Ger. nein "no," and analogous to L. non- (see non-). As an adj., since c.1600 reduced to no except in a few archaic phrases, especially before vowels, such as none other, none the worse.

nonentity --- c.1600, "something which does not exist," from non- + entity. Meaning "a person or thing of no importance" is attested from 1710.

nones --- c.1420, in ref. to the Roman calendar, "ninth day (by inclusive reckoning) before the ides of each month" (7th of March, May, July, October, 5th of other months), from L. nonæ (acc. nonas), fem. pl. of nonus "ninth." Ecclesiastical sense of "daily office said originally at the ninth hour of the day" is from 1709; originally fixed at ninth hour from sunrise, hence about 3 p.m. (now usually somewhat earlier), from L. nona (hora) "ninth (hour)," from fem. pl. of nonus "ninth," contracted from *novenos, from novem "nine" (see nine). Also used in a sense of "midday" (see noon).

non-essential (adj.) --- 1751, from non- + essential (see essence). Attested as a noun from 1806.

nonetheless --- 1847, as phrase none the less; contracted into one word from c.1930.

non-event --- unimportant or disappointing event, 1962, from non- + event.

non-fiction --- 1903 (implied in non-fictional), from non- + fiction.

no-nonsense --- not tolerating foolishness, businesslike, 1928," from phrase to stand no nonsense, which is attested from 1821, originally in sporting slang.

nonpareil --- 1477 (adj.), "having no equal," from M.Fr. nonpareil "unequalled," from non- "not" + pareil "equal." The noun meaning "an unequaled person or thing" is from 1593; first applied to a kind of candy 1697. As the name of a printing type (6 point size) it is attested from 1647.

non-partisan --- 1885, from non- + partisan.

nonplus --- 1582 (n.), properly "state where 'nothing more' can be done or said," from L. non plus "no more, no further." The verb meaning "to bring to a nonplus, to perplex" is attested from 1591.

non-proliferation --- 1965, from non- + proliferation; originally in ref. to nuclear weapons.

nonsense --- 1614, from non- + sense.

non-smoker --- person who does not smoke, 1846, in ref. to railways. Non-smoking (adj.) is attested from 1891.

non-standard --- c.1933, a linguist's value-neutral term, in ref. to language formerly stigmatized as "bad" or "vulgar."

non-stop --- 1903, from non- + stop (v.), originally of railway trains.

nonsuch --- 1590, nonesuch "unmatched or unrivaled thing," from none + such. As a type of decorated 16c. or 17c. chest, it is in ref. to Nonesuch Palace, in Surrey, which supposedly is represented in the designs.

non-violent --- 1920, in ref. to "principle or practice of abstaining from violence," first in writings of M.K. Gandhi, from non- + violent (see violence).

noodle (n.) --- narrow strip of dried dough, 1779, from Ger. Nudel, of unknown origin. W.Flem. noedel and Fr. nouille are Ger. loan-words. The older noun meaning "simpleton, stupid person" (1753) probably is an unrelated word, as is the slang word for "head" (attested from 1914).

noodle (v.) --- improvised music (n.), 1926, probably from noodle (n.), on analogy of the suppleness of the food and that of the trills and improvised phrases. The verb is first attested 1937 (implied in noodling).

nook --- c.1300, noke, of unknown origin. Possibly connected with Norw. dial. nokke "hook, bent figure," or O.E. hnecca "neck," but the sense evolution would be difficult.

nookie --- sexual activity, 1928, perhaps from Du. neuken "to fuck."

noon --- 1140, non "midday, 12 o'clock p.m., midday meal," from O.E. non "3 o'clock p.m.," also "the canonical hour of nones," from L. nona hora "ninth hour" of daylight, by Roman reckoning about 3 p.m., from nona, fem. sing. of nonus "ninth" (see nones). Meaning shift from "3 p.m." to "12 p.m." began during 12c., when time of Church prayers shifted from ninth hour to sixth hour, or perhaps because the customary time of the midday meal shifted, or both. The shift was complete by 14c. (cf. same evolution in Du. noen). Noonday was first used by Coverdale (1535).

noose --- c.1450, from O.Fr. nos or cognate O.Prov. nous "knot," from L. nodus "knot." Rare before c.1600.

no-parking --- designation for a place where vehicles may not be parked, 1946, from no + parking.

nope --- 1888, emphatic form of no.

no-place --- place which does not exist, 1929, from no + place.

nor --- c.1300, contraction of M.E. nauther (see neither). Influenced in form by or.

Nora --- fem. proper name, Irish, shortened from Honora or Leonora.

Nordic --- 1898, from Fr. nordique (in J. Deniker's system of race classifications), lit. "of or pertaining to the north," from nord "north" (a loan-word from O.E.; see north). Perhaps influenced by Ger. Nordisch. Strictly, the blond peoples who inhabit Scandinavia and the north of Britain. As a type of skiing competition, it is attested from 1954.

Norfolk --- Nordfolc (1066) "(Territory of the) Northern People (of the East Angles)." The Norfolk pine (1778), used as an ornamental tree, is from Norfolk Island in the South Pacific, northwest of New Zealand.

norm --- standard, pattern, model, 1821, from Fr. norme, from O.Fr., from L. norma "carpenter's square, rule, pattern," of unknown origin. Klein suggests a borrowing (via Etruscan) of Gk. gnomon "carpenter's square." The L. form of the word, norma, was used in Eng. in the sense of "carpenter's square" from 1676.

Norma --- fem. proper name, probably from L. norma (see norm).

normal --- 1650, "standing at a right angle," from L.L. normalis "in conformity with rule, normal," from L. normalis "made according to a carpenter's square," from norma "rule, pattern," lit. "carpenter's square" (see norm). Meaning "conformingt to common standards, usual" is from 1828. Normalcy is first attested 1857, originally as a mathematical term; normality is first attested 1849. Normal school (1834) is from Fr. école normale (1794), a republican foundation.

Norman --- c.1205, "of the mixed Scandinavian-Frankish people who conquered England in 1066," from O.Fr. Normanz, pl. of Normand, from a Scand. word meaning "northman" (see Norse), in ref. to the Scand. people who overran and occupied Normandy 10c. As a style of architecture, developed in Normandy and employed in England after the conquest, it is attested from 1797.

Norn --- 1770, from O.N. norn (pl. nornir), one of the female fates of Scand. mythology, related to Swed. dial. norna "to warn, to communicate secretly," perhaps ult. imitative of low murmuring (cf. M.H.G. narren "to growl, snarl").

Norse --- 1598, from obsolete Du. Noorsch (adj.) "Norwegian," from noordsch "northern, nordic," from noord "north" (see north). Also in some cases borrowed from cognate Dan. or Norw. norsk. An O.E. word for "a Norwegian" was Norðman, cource of O.Fr. Normand (cf. Normandy, "region settled by Vikings," see Norman). Norseman (1817) is not historical and appears to be due to Scott.

north --- O.E. norð, from P.Gmc. *nurtha- (cf. O.N. norðr, O.Fris. north, M.Du. nort, Du. noord, Ger. nord), possibly ult. from PIE *ner- "left," also "below," as north is to the left when one faces the rising sun (cf. Skt. narakah "hell," Gk. enerthen "from beneath," Oscan-Umbrian nertrak "left"). The same notion underlies Ir. tuaisceart "north." The usual word for "north" in the Romance languages is ultimately from English, cf. O.Fr. north (Fr. nord), borrowed from O.E. norð; It., Sp. norte are borrowed from O.Fr. North-easter "wind blowing from the northeast" is from 1794. North American first used 1766, by Franklin. Northwest Passage first attested 1600. Northerner in U.S. geo-political sense is attested from 1831. Northern lights "aurora borealis" first recorded 1721. North Star "Pole Star" is M.E. norþe sterre (1398, cf. M.Du. noirdstern, Ger. nordstern).

North Sea --- in O.E., this meant the Bristol Channel. The application to the body of water presently so named is from Du. It lies to the north of Holland, where it and was contrasted with the inland Zuider Zee (lit. "Southern Sea"). To the Danes, it sometimes was Vesterhavet "West Sea." In Eng., this had been typically called the "German Sea" or "German Ocean," which follows the Roman name for it, Oceanus Germanicus. First transf. use of North Sea from Du. is from c.1290, though "German" persisted on some maps at least into the 1830s.

Northumbria --- Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Norðhymbre, which lay "north" of the river Humber (L. Humbri fluminis, c.720), an ancient pre-English river name of unknown origin.

Norway --- O.E. Norweg, Norþweg from O.N. Norvegr "north way," contrasted with suthrvegar "south way," i.e. Germany, and austrvegr "east way," the Baltic lands. Norwegian (1607) is from M.L. Norvegia, with the -w- from Norway.

nose --- O.E. nosu, from P.Gmc. *nusus (cf. O.N. nös, O.Fris. nose, Du. neus, O.H.G. nasa, Ger. nase), from PIE *nas- (cf. Skt. nasa, O.Pers. naham, O.C.S. nasu, Lith. nosis, L. nasus "nose"). Used to indicate "something obvious" from 1591. The verb sense of "pry, search" first recorded 1648, from the noun. Pay through the nose (1672) seems to suggest "bleed."

nosegay --- bunch of flowers, c.1420, from nose + gay.

nosh (v.) --- 1957, from Yiddish nashn "nibble," from M.H.G. naschen, from O.H.G. hnascon, nascon "to nibble," from P.Gmc. *khnaskwajanan. Earlier as a noun (1917) meaning "a restaurant," short for nosh-house.

no-show (n.) --- someone who fails to keep an appointment, 1941 (see show (v.)), originally airline jargon.