“In a box of a stone jug I was born,
Of a hempen widow all forlorn;
And my old dad, as I’ve heard say,
Was a famous merchant in capers gay;
Nix my dolly, pals, fake away!”
“Capers” of course here refers to the mode of the old gentleman’s decease.
Niz-priz, a writ of nisi-prius.—Legal.
Nizzie, a fool, a coxcomb.—Old Cant, vide Triumph of Wit.
Nob, the head.—Pugilistic; “bob a NOB,” a shilling a head. Ancient Cant, NEB. Nob is an early English word, and is used in the romance of Kynge Alinaunder (thirteenth century) for a head; originally, no doubt, the same as knob.
Nob, a person of high position, a “swell,” a NOBleman,—of which word it may be an abbreviation, or of NOBILIS. See [SNOB].
Nob. When the knave of trumps is held at the game of cribbage, the holder counts “one for his NOB.”
Nobba, nine. Italian, NOVE; Spanish, NOVA,—the b and v being interchangeable, as in sabe and savvey. Slang introduced by the “organ-grinders” from Italy.
Nobba saltee, ninepence. Lingua Franca, NOVE SOLDI.
Nobbing cheat, the gallows.—Old Cant.