My Lady Nicotine. The pretty name now generally applied to tobacco since the republication in book form of J. M. Barrie’s essays on smoking which originally appeared in the St James’s Gazette. See “Nicotine.”
Mythology. From the Greek muthos, a fable, and logos, a discourse. This was essentially a religion built upon fable.
My Uncle. The popular designation of a pawnbroker. See “[Uncle].”
N
Nailed. Slang for “caught,” in allusion to being pinned down by the captors. Also a thing seized and made off with; a punning reference to “driving” a nail.
Naked Possessor. The Far West description of the possessor of a piece of land for a long period without a legal title to it. He is the naked possessor because his title is not clothed in a set form of words recognised by the Courts of Law.
Nankeen. Cotton stuff originally made at Nankin, in China.
Nankin. Expresses the Chinese for “Southern Capital.”
Nanny Goats. The nickname of the 23rd Foot on account of their regimental pet goat.
Nantes. A native brandy exported from Nantes in Brittany. The name is the Celtic for “valley.”