muss, a scramble among boys, for trivial objects. Ant. and Cl. iii. 13. 91; B. Jonson, Barthol. Fair, iv. 1 (Cokes). ‘Muss’ means a confusion, scramble, in Warwickshire, see EDD. (s.v. Muss, sb.1 1 and 2).
mutchado, a moustache; ‘On his upper lippe A mutchado’, Arden of Fev. ii. 1. 56; mutchato, Higgins, Induction to Mirror for Mag. (Nares); muschatoes, Marlowe, Jew of Malta, iv. 4 (Ithamore). For numerous spellings of the word ‘moustache’ see NED. See [mouchatoes].
mutton, a strumpet. Middleton, Roaring Girl, iii. 2 (Mis. O.); Dekker, Honest Wh., Pt. II, iii. 8 (Bots). See [laced mutton].
myrobalane, a kind of dried Indian plum. B. Jonson, Alchem. iv. 1 (Subtle). F. myrobalan, L. myrobalanum, Gk. μυροβάλανος, probably the ben-nut; μύpov, unguent, and βάλανος, acorn.
N
nab, the head. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, iii. 3 (Higgen); Harman, Caveat, p. 82; Middleton, Roaring Girl, v. 1 (Song); nabb, a hat, Shadwell, Squire Alsatia, ii. 1. Swed. dial, nabb, the head (Rietz).
nab-cheat, a hat or cap. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, ii. 1; Harman, Caveat, p. 82. See [cheat] (Thieves’ Cant).
nache, the rump; ‘The nache by the tayle’, Fitzherbert, Husbandry, § 57. 3. A west Yorks. word, see EDD. (s.v. Aitch-bone). OF. nache, a buttock (Godefroy); Ital. natica. See Dict. (s.v. Aitch-bone).
nads, an ‘adze’. Tusser, Husbandry, § 17. 9.
næve, a spot, blemish; ‘Spots, like næves’, Dryden, Death of Lord Hastings, 55. L. naevus, a mole, or mark on the body.