nieve, nief Now dial. or arch.
(niːv, niːf)
Forms: α. 4–6 neue, (9) neve, 5–6 newe, 5 (9) neeve, 6– neive, (7 neiue), nieve, 7–9 neave, (9 nee-), 8–9 nive, 9 niv, nev. (Also 9 kneave, etc.) β. 4–5 (9) nefe, 5 nef, 5–6 neff(e, 6 (9) neef; 6 (9) neif(e, 6 neiff, neyf, 7 (9) neiffe; 6 neafe, -ffe, 7, 9 neaf, (9 kn-), 9 neeaf; 6 nife, 7, 9 nief. γ. 5, 9 nave, 6 naif, 9 naive, neyv(e, knayve, etc.
[ME. neve, nefe, ad. ON. hnefi, nefi (Norw. dial. neve, növe, næva, Sw. näfve, Da. næve). The γ-forms may correspond to the Norw. dial. var. nava, the relationship of which to neve is not clear. The word is not found in the other Teutonic languages.]
A clenched hand; a fist.
Current in all northern and Sc. dialects; also used by Shakespeare and B. Jonson (see neuf) and hence sometimes by modern writers as an archaism. For the distribution of the mod. dial. forms see the Eng. Dial. Dict.
| α c 1300 Havelok 1917 So longe haueden he but and bet With neues under hernes set. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1537 When þat bolde Baltazar blusched to þat neue, al falewed his face. 1375 Barbour Bruce iii. 581 Newys that stalwart war & squar, That wont to spayn gret speris war. c 1400 Destr. Troy 13889 He nolpit on with his Neue in the necke hole. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 155 Gif he wald strike me..I strike him agayne with my neve. 1573 Satir. Poems Reform. xlii. 427 The teindis will not cum in thair neuis, Sa lang as ony of vs leuis. a 1585 Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 1552 Quhois throt..Ye may stap with your neive. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 2 Gif he giues ane blow with his neiue..he sall pay to the king sex kye. 1684 [Meriton] Yorksh. Dial. 599 She'l deal her Neaves about her, I hear tell. a 1758 Ramsay Fables xvii. 4 A greedy Callan..Shot his wee nive into the pot. 1785 Burns Death & Dr. Hornbook xxvi, An honest Wabster.., Whase wife's twa nieves were scarce weel-bred. 1830 Galt Lawrie T. i. ii, Her nieve was said to be worse than a battering-ram. 1895 Chamb. Jrnl. XII. 779/2 He stepped forward a pace, his eyes flashing, his nieves clenched. |
| β c 1375 Cursor M. 6682 (Fairf.), If..þe tane þe toþer smyte wiþ nefe or stane. a 1400 Sir Perc. 2087 To Percevelle a dynt he ȝefe In the nekk with his nefe. c 1440 York Myst. xxix. 369 Dose noddil on hym with neffes That he noght nappe. 1513 Douglas æneis xii. viii. 106 Mesapus..in hys left neif haldis all reddy Twa sowpill casting speris. 1570 Satir. Poems Reform. xxii. 60 Blind Hary with hir to sport and play, With fauldit neif. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iv. i. 15 Giue me your neafe, Mounsieur Mustardseed. 1597 ― 2 Hen. IV ii. iv. 195 Sweet Knight, I kisse thy Neaffe. 1674 Ray N.C. Words 35 A Neive or Neiffe: a Fist. 1825 Brockett N.C. Gloss., Neif, the fist... Double⁓neif, the clenched fist. 1855 Kingsley Westw. Ho! (1889) 70/1 Come, give us thy neif, and let us part in peace. 1866 J. B. Rose tr. Ovid's Met. 324 With clever neife And undegenerate cunning. |
| attrib. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 155 Gif a man wald geve me a nef strake. |
| γ 1375 Barbour Bruce xvi. 129 With ane trunsioune in [till] his nave, To schir Colyne sic dusche he gave. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 518 This ilk Walter..desirit for to haif That ilk falcone he buir vpoun his naif. 1841 Hamilton Nugæ Lit. 337 A violent man threatens to have [heave] his nave. 1872 Hartley Yorksh. Ditties Ser. i. 130 He struck his naive o' th' table. |