The Prisoner of Zenda (48 page)

nice
ADJ
discriminating. Able to make good judgements or choices
consequently a claim to be nice
(
Emma
by Jane Austen)

nigh
ADV
nigh means near
He'll never know how nigh he come to getting lynched
(
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain)

nimbleness
NOUN
nimbleness means being able to move very quickly or skillfully
and with incredible accuracy and nimbleness
(
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson)

noggin
NOUN
a noggin is a small mug or a wooden cup
you'll bring me one noggin of rum
(
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson)

none
ADJ
neither
none can die
(
The Good-Morrow
by John Donne)

notices
NOUN
observations
Arch are his notices
(
The Prelude
by William Wordsworth)

occiput
NOUN
occiput means the back of the head
saw off the occiput of each couple
(
Gulliver's Travels
by Jonathan Swift)

officiously
ADJ
kindly
the governess who attended Glumdalclitch very officiously lifted me up
(
Gulliver's Travels
by Jonathan Swift)

old salt
PHRASE
old salt is a slang term for an experienced sailor
a ‘true sea-dog',
and a ‘real old salt'
(
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson)

or ere
PHRASE
before
or ere the Hall was built
(
The Prelude
by William Wordsworth)

ostler
NOUN
one who looks after horses at an inn
The bill paid, and the waiter remembered, and the ostler not forgotten, and the chambermaid taken into consideration
(
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens)

ostry
NOUN
an ostry is an old word for a pub or hotel
lest I send you into the ostry with a vengeance
(
Doctor Faustus 2.2
by Christopher Marlowe)

outrunning the constable
PHRASE
outrunning the constable meant spending more than you earn
but I shall by this means be able to check your bills and to pull you up if I find you outrunning the constable.
(
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens)