† nicebecetur Obs.
Also 6 nyse-, nycebecetur (-byceter), nycibecetour.
[Origin obscure; perh. a fanciful formation from nice a. The earliest and latest quots. appear to show different stressings of the word.]
A dainty, fine, or fashionable girl or woman.
| c 1520 Bk. Mavd Emlyn 225 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 90 To gete gownes and furs, These nysebeceturs, Of men sheweth theyr pyte. a 1530 Heywood Weather (Brandl) 898 Another maner losse yf we sholde mys Then of such nyce⁓byceters as she is. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 120 b, In suche did..the other nycibecetours or denty dames customably use..to bee carryed about. 1546 Heywood Prov. i. xi. (1874) 57 Betweene you and your Ginifinee Nycebecetur. [a 1553 Udall Roister Doister i. iv. 12.] 1584 in Cl. Robinson Handful Pleasant Delights (Arb.) 14 Farewel good Nicibicetur, God send you a sweeter. |
So † nicebice. Obs. rare—1.
| 1595 Locrine iii. iv, No, by my troth, mistresse nicebice, how fine you can nickname me. |