*Never-the-near. To no purpose, uselessly. 'I cwourted she ten year, but there, 'twer aal niver-the-near.'—N.W. (Malmesbury.)
Next akin to nothing. Very little indeed. 'There's next akin to nothen left in the barrel.'—N.W.
Nibs. The handles of a scythe (A.).—N.W.
Niche. See Knitch.
Nightcaps. (1) Convolvulus sepium, L., Great Bindweed.—N. & S.W. (2) Aquilegia vulgaris, L., the garden Columbine.—N.W. (Devizes, Huish, &c.)
Night-fall. n. A disease in horses. A humour in the fetlock joint, recurring until it produces incurable lameness.—S.W.
'Witness ... told him his animal was very lame, and asked what was the matter with it. He replied, "Nothing, it is only 'night-fall,' and it comes on several times during the year."'—Wilts County Mirror, Oct. 27, 1893.
Nightingale. Stellaria Holostea, L., Greater Stitchwort.—S.W. (Hants bord.)
*Night Violet. Habenaria chlorantha, Bab., Greater Butterfly Orchis (Sarum Dioc. Gazette).—N.W. (Lyneham.)