▪ I. neigh, n.
(neɪ)
Also 6 Sc. ne.
[f. next.]
The natural cry or call uttered by a horse.
| 1513 Douglas æneis xi. x. 24 He sprentis furth, and full provd walxis he, Heich strekand vp his hed with mony a ne. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iii. vii. 29 It is the Prince of Palfrayes, his Neigh is like the bidding of a Monarch. 1635–56 Cowley Davideis iv. 707 Here with sharp Neighs the warlike Horses sound. 1781 Cowper Charity 177 Responsive to the distant neigh, he neighs. 1821 Scott Kenilw. vii, The neigh of horses and the baying of hounds were heard. 1879 Beerbohm Patagonia v. 65 At our approach he gave a faint neigh of satisfaction. |
▪ II. neigh, v.
(neɪ)
Forms: α. 1 (h)nǽᵹan, 3–6 neye(n), 4 nay-, neȝ-, neiȝ-, 4–5 neyȝ-, neyh-, 4–6 neyghe, (4 nayghe), 4– neigh, (7 neay). β. 4–6 nye, 5 nyȝe, 6 nie. γ. 5–6 north. and Sc. ne(e.
[OE. hnǽᵹan = MDu. neyen (Flem. and Du. dial. neijen), MHG. nêgen, of imitative origin: cf. also OS. (to)hnechian; MDu. nijgen, nighen, nien, nyen, MLG. nigen, nihen, MHG. nyhen. The vbl. n. also appears in early OE. as hnæggiung, app. parallel to ON. gneggia (Sw. gnägga, Da. gnegge), Icel. hneggja, Norw. (k)neggja. Other imitative forms are neigher, nicher, and nicker.]
1. intr. Of a horse: To utter its characteristic sound or cry.
| α c 1000 ælfric Gram. xxx. (Z.) 192 Hinnio, ic hnæᵹe. Ibid. 129 Equus hinnit, hors hnæᵹð [v.r. næᵹþ]. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9417 Þe hors neyde & lepte þat it was gret fere. 13.. K. Alis. 1872 Mony stede [there was] loude neyghyng. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 403 Bucefal þe hors..neyhede as it were þe rorynge of leons. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 7729 As he were a hors, he neyes and ondes. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vi. iii. 186 They herde by them a grete hors grymly neye. 1530 Palsgr. 643/2 It is a comfortable thyng to here a horse neye whan he is on his journaye. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. ii. ii. 23 The noise of Battell hurtled in the Ayre; Horsses do neigh, and dying men did grone. 1663 Butler Hud. i. ii. 138 As once in Persia, 'tis said Kings were proclaimed by a horse that neighed. 1735 Somerville Chase ii. 92 My Courser hears their Voice,..neighing he paws the ground. 1829 Lytton Devereux iii. ii, I heard my horse neighing beneath the window. 1865 Max Müller Chips (1880) I. vi. 130 The horse of Darius neighed first. |
| β 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 1336 Þe stedes nyen, and togider whine. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxiii. 149 Þe meres herez þaire foolez nye. 1530 Palsgr. 644/1, I nye, as a horse dothe. 1570 Levins Manip. 102/2 To Nie as an horse. |
| γ c 1400 Destr. Troy 7727 He neyt as a nagge, at his nose thrilles. 1483 Cath. Angl. 249/2 To Nee as a horse, hinnire. 1513 Douglas æneis xi. xvii. 94 The dynnyng of thar hors feit eik hard he,..and thar stedis ne. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 39 Baytht horse & meyris did fast nee, & the folis nechyr. |
| transf. 1382 Wyclif Isa. x. 30 Neȝe with thi vois, thou doȝter of Galyn. ― Jer. v. 8 Eche to the wif of his neȝhebore neyȝede. 1530 Palsgr. 664/1 Thou nyest for an other otes, wiche we expresse by..‘thou lokest after deed mens shoes’,..is an adage in the frenche tonge. a 1616 Beaum. & Fl. Wit without M. iv. i, The he your wisdom play'd withal,..neigh'd at his nakedness, And made his cold and poverty your pastime. 1676 North's Plutarch, Add. Lives 81 He divorced her (say some) for her barrenness, but the effect declared that he neigh'd after others. 1781 Cowper Expost. 39 Adultery neighing at his neighbour's door. |
2. trans. To utter in neighing, or with a sound like neighing.
| 1623 Massinger Bondman iv. ii, The noble horse..Neighed courage to his rider. 1642 Milton Apol. Smect. Wks. 1851 III. 292 Who..could neigh out the remembrance of his old conversation among the Viraginian trollops. 1789 C. Smith Ethelinde (1814) IV. 146 D'ye think one might neigh out civilities to this female Nimrod? |