Chapter Nipperkin to Nolle Prosequi of N by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Nipperkin to Nolle Prosequi

Nipperkin (A). A small wine and beer measure. Now called a “nip.”

“His hawk-economy won't thank him for't
Which stops his petty nipperkin of port.”
Peter Pindar: Hair Powder.

Nirvana Annihilation, or rather the final deliverance of the soul from transmigration (in Buddhism). Sanskrit, nir, out; vâna, blow. (See Gautama .)

Nishapoor and Tous. Mountains in Khorassan where turquoises are found.

Nisi Prius A Nisi Case, a cause to be tried in the assize courts. Sittings at Nisi Prius, sessions of Nisi Prius Courts, which never try criminal cases. Trial at Nisi, a trial before judges of assize. An action at one time could be tried only in the court where it was brought, but Magna Charta provided that certain cases, instead of being tried at Westminster in the superior courts, should be tried in their proper counties before judges of assize. The words “Nisi Prius” are two words on which the following clause attached to the writs entirely hinges:- “We command you to come before our justices at Westminster on the morrow of All Souls', NISI PRIUS justiciarii domini regis ad assisas capiendas venerint- i.e. unless previously the justices of our lord the king come to hold their assizes at (the court of your own assize town).”

Nisroch An idol of the Ninevites represented in their sculptures with a hawk's head. The word means Great Eagle.

Nit One of the attendants of Queen Mab.

Nitouche (St.) or Mie Touche (Touch-me-not). A hypocrite, a demure-looking pharisee. The French say, Faire la Sainte Nitouche, to pretend to great sanctity, or look as if butter would not melt in your mouth.

“It is certainly difficult to believe hard things of a woman who looks like Ste. Nitouche in profile.”- J. O. Hobbes: Some Emotions and a Moral, chap. iii.

Nix (mas.), Nixie (fem.). Kind busy-body. Little creatures not unlike the Scotch brownie and German kobold. They wear a red cap, and are ever ready to lend a helping hand to the industrious and thrifty (See Nick .)

“Another tribe of water-fairies are the Nixes, who frequently assume the appearance of beautiful maidens.”- T. F. T. Dyer: Folk-lore of Plants, chap. vii. p. 90.

Nixon Red-faced.

“Like a red-faced Nixon.”- Pickwick.

Nizam' A title of sovereignty in Hyderabad (India), derived from Nizam-ul-mulk (regulator of the state), who obtained possession of the Deccan at the beginning of the 18th century. The name Caesar was by the Romans used precisely in the same manner, and has descended to the present hour in the form of Kaiser (of the German Empire).

Njord God of the winds and waves. (Edda.)

No Man is a Hero to his own Valet Montaigne (1533-1592) said: “Peu d'hommes ont esté admirés par leurs domestiques.” Mad. Cornuel (who died 1694) wrote to the same effect: “Il n'y a pas de grand homme pour son valet de chambre.”

“A prophet is not without honour save in ... his own house.”- Matt. xiii. 56.

No More Poles Give over work. The cry in hop-gardens when the pickers are to cease working.

“When the sun set, the cry of `No more poles' resounded, and the work of the day was done.”- The Ludgate Monthly: Hops and Hop-pickers, November, 1891.

No-Popery Riots Those of Edinburgh and Glasgow, February 5th, 1779. Those of London, occasioned by Lord George Gordon, in 1780.

Noah's Ark (Genesis vi. 15) was about as big as a medium-sized church, that is, from 450 to 500 feet long, from 75 to 85 feet broad, and from 45 to 50 feet high, with one window in the roof. Toy arks represent it with rows of windows on each side, which is incorrect.