Dictionary: N – NAIL'ING

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N,

is the fourteenth letter of the English Alphabet, and an articulation formed by placing the end of the tongue against the root of the upper teeth. It is an imperfect mute or semi-vowel, and a nasal letter; the articulation being accompanied with a sound through the nose. It has one sound only, and after m is silent or nearly so, as in hymn and condemn. N, among the ancients, was a numeral letter signifying 900, and with a stroke over it, {N with super-macron}, 9000. Among the lawyers, N. L. stood for non liquet, the case is not clear. In commerce, No. is an abbreviation of the French nombre, and stands for number. N.S. stands for New Style.

NAB, n.

The summit of a mountain or rock. [Local.] – Grose.

NAB, v.t. [Sw. nappa; Dan. napper; G. and D. knappen. See Knap.]

To catch suddenly; to seize by a sudden grasp or thrust; a word little used and only in low language.

NAB'BED, pp.

Caught suddenly.

NAB'BING, ppr.

Seizing suddenly.

NA'BOB, n.

  1. A deputy or viceroy in India, subordinate to the Subahs: hence,
  2. A man of great wealth.

NA'CA-RAT, n. [Sp. nacar, mother of pearl.]

A pale red color, with a cast of orange.

NACK'ER, n. [See NAKER.]

NA'CRE-OUS, a. [See Naker.]

Having a pearly luster. – Phillips.

NA'CRITE, n. [See Naker.]

A rare mineral, called also talckite, consisting of scaly parts; glimmering, pearly, friable, with a greasy feel; the color, a greenish white. – Jameson. Ure.

NA'DIR, n. [Ar. نَظِيرٌ, from نَظََرَ natara, to be like, proportional, corresponding to, opposite.]

That point of the heavens or lower hemisphere directly opposite to the zenith; the point directly under the place where we stand.

NA'DLE-STEIN, n. [G. nadel and stein.]

Needle-stone; rutile. – Ure.

NAEVE, n. [NÆVE. L. nævus.]

A spot. – Dryden.

NAE'VOSE, a. [NÆ'VOSE.]

Spotted; freckled.

NAFE, or NAFF, n.

A kind of tufted sea-fowl. – Chalmers.

NAG, n.

  1. A small horse; a horse in general, or rather a sprightly horse. – L'Estrange.
  2. A paramour; in contempt. – Shak.

NAG'GY, a.

Contentious. – N. of Eng.

NAI-ADES, n. [plur.]

In conchology, a family of fresh-water shells. – S. S. Haldeman.

NAID, or NA'IAD, n. [Gr. ναιαδες, naiads, from ναω, to flow.]

In mythology, a water nymph; a deity that presides over rivers and springs.

NAIL, n. [Sax. nægel; Sw. G. and D. nagel; Dan. nagle; Russ. nagot; Sans. naga or nakha. If the word was originally applied to a claw or talon, the primary sense may be to catch, or it may be a shoot.]

  1. The claw or talon of a fowl or other animal.
  2. The horny substance growing at the end of the human fingers and toes.
  3. A small pointed piece of metal, usually with a head, to be driven into a board or other piece of timber, and serving to fasten it to other timber. The larger kinds of instruments of this sort are called spikes; and a long thin kind with a flattish head, is called a brad.
  4. A stud or boss; a short nail with a large broad head. – Swift.
  5. A measure of length, being two inches and a quarter, or the 16th of a yard. On the nail, in hand; immediately; without delay or time of credit; as, to pay money on the nail. To hit the nail on the head, to hit or touch the exact point.

NAIL, v.t.

  1. To fasten with nails; to unite, close or make compact with nails.
  2. To stud with nails. The rivets of your arms were nail'd with gold. – Dryden.
  3. To stop the vent of a cannon; to spike.

NAIL'ED, pp.

Fastened with nails; studded.

NAIL'ER, n.

One whose occupation is to make nails.

NAIL'ER-Y, n.

A manufactory where nails are made.

NAIL'ING, ppr.

Fastening with nails: studding.