▪ I. nis, n.
Also nisse, nys.
[a. Da. and Sw. nisse.]
In Scandinavian folk-lore, a species of brownie or friendly goblin which frequents barns, stables, and other buildings.
| 1833 Keightley Fairy Myth. I. 222 The Nis is the same being that is called Kobold in Germany, Brownie in Scotland. 1855 Bailey Mystic. etc. 147 Nisses, Noks, Kobolds, Kelpies, Norns, and Trolls. 1865 Whittier Kallundborg Church 28 The Neck and the Nis gave no reply. |
▪ II. † nis
is not: see ne and be v. A. 1. 3. Obs.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter iii. 3 Nis haelu hire in deo hire. c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. v. §3 Hit nis ᵹiet se tima. c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Matt. xxviii. 6 Nis he her forþon þe he aras. c 1000 ælfric Gram. (Z) 227 Nis hit swa? Hit nis. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 23 Hit nis nan wunder. c 1200 Ormin 6181 Inn all þatt niss nan sinne. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 282 Þer nis bot a Godd. a 1300 K. Horn 13 Fairer nis non þane he was. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 997 Nis þer non so bald. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. i. 34 Al nis not good to the gost that the bodi lyketh. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iv. xx. 68 He and I oure herte nis but one. 1477 Norton Ord. Alch. i. in Ashm. (1652) 13 This Science n'is holy in effect. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. June 19 Those hilles where harbrough nis to see. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. (1724) II. 714 Nothing can endure where order n'is. [1634 W. Cartwright Ordinary iv. ii, I nis not Edmond Ironside, God wot.] |