Noli me tangere, "He is a noli-me-tangere" (M[23],b), generic for anybody or anything repellant, an awkward tempered person. "He was wont to say of them that they were of the tribe of Dan, and were noli me tangere's."—R. Naunton, Frag. Reg. (c. 1630), 18 (1870).
Nolo, "Nolo mortem peccatoris, inquit" (M[37],b): see Ezekiel xxviii. 11—"Nolo mortem impii, sed ut convertatus impius a vita sua, et vivat."
Nomination, "that is my nomination" (R[199],d), name, designation. "Because of these two effectes ... hath it the nomination of kayes."—Frith (d. 1533), Workes, p. 58.
Non, see Inventus.
Nonage, "the nonage of this gentleman" (N[53],d), legal minority. "My parents deceased in mine nonage."—Godly Queen Hester, Anon. Pl., 2 Ser. (E.E.D.S.), 257,c.
Nonny, see Hey.
Nourice, "thy tender nourice" (N[46],d), nurse. "Flatterers ben the devil's nourices that nourish his children with milke of losengrie."—Chaucer, Cant. Tales (1383), Persones Tale.
Nymphs, "at her nymphs" (R[251],b), i.e. handmaidens, waiting women.
Oar, see Boat.
Obedient, "subdued to reason as his obedient" (N[55],d), one subject to authority, a subordinate: an earlier instance of the substantive use of obedient than that recorded in the O.E.D. by a century and a quarter.