noggin
(ˈnɒgɪn)
Also 7 -ing, 8 knoggin, noggan, 8–9 naggin.
[Of obscure origin: Gael. noigean, Ir. noigin are no doubt from Eng.]
1. a. A small drinking vessel; a mug or cup.
| 1630 Tincker of Turvey Ep. Ded., Of her ale, her custome was to set before me two little noggins full. a 1648 Digby Closet Opened (1677) 45 You have the yeast in a large noggin with a handle. 1716 T. Ward Eng. Ref. 50 Plate, Candlesticks, and Silver Flaggons were turn'd to Brass and Peuter Noggins. 1753 Stewart's Trial 208 The noggin in which he had carried the drink to Allan Breck. 1773 Poetry in Ann. Reg. 234 The milky store..Crowns the clean noggin. 1824 Doddridge Notes 109 The settler's furniture consisted of a few pewter dishes,..wooden bowls, trenchers, and noggins. 1859 Sala Tw. round Clock (1861) 53 The pewter counters and the brass-work of the beer-engines, the funnels and the whisky noggins. |
b. The head. orig. and chiefly U.S.
| 1866 J. Finley Hoosier's Nest 90 But Matty's top⁓knot..Wasn't there, for his noggin was bald. 1885 ‘Phudge Phumble’ Adventures Greenhorn in Gotham 25 The full force of it against his noggin. 1931 D. Runyon Guys & Dolls (1932) 286 She smacks Rusty Charley on the side of the noggin with the bat. 1951 Landfall V. 202 ‘Thanks, chum,’ said Vic, ‘You used your noggin.’ 1957 New Yorker 2 Nov. 34/3 The Right Honourable Our Man Stanley, his Lock hat set firmly on his noggin, dropped by the office the other day and deposited the following dispatch. 1972 J. E. Franklin in W. King Black Short Story Anthol. 354 Her hair was short,..and a dozen of those little twig-plaits tucked under and pinned looked like knots rising on her noggin. 1975 P. G. Winslow Death of Angel iv. 86 A rap on the back of the noggin that knocked her out. |
c. A pail or bucket. local U.S.
| 1885 ‘C. E. Craddock’ Prophet Gt. Smoky Mts. x. 175 Mirandy Jane, seated on an inverted noggin, listened tamely to the conversation. 1889 ― Despot of Broomsedge Cove xviii. 324 Isabel sat idle on an inverted noggin. |
2. A small quantity of liquor, usually a quarter of a pint.
| 1693 Humours Town 101 The poor Curate..is the Humble Servant of ev'ry one that Treats him with a Noggin of cool Nants. a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Noggin, (of Brandy) a Quarter of a Pint. 1745 Gentl. Mag. 425 He drank about a quart a day, a naggin at each time. 1798 Sporting Mag. XI. 284 A man..drank no less than four noggins of gin. 1810 Vandeleur Lett. (1894) 14 Our army has very good rations: 1 pound of beef, 1 pound of bread, and about a naggin of rum each day. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xii. (1856) 94 While we were joking about his adventure over a quiet little noggin of whisky-punch. 1863 Hawthorne Our Old Home (1879) 233 No doubt many a noggin of whiskey is here quaffed. |
3. attrib., as noggin-bottle, noggin-glass, noggin-pot, noggin-stave.
| 1663 Wood Life 1 Feb., At Short's the coffee-man..in chocolate, 6d., for a nogging pot, 5d. 1804 R. Anderson Cumbld. Ball. (c1850) 68 To monie a bonnie Carel lass..The noggin glass went roun. 1855 Kingsley Westw. Ho! xix, If the Lord had not fought for us, she'd have been beat to noggin-staves there on the beach. 1894 Hall Caine Manxman vi. x. 394 With a noggin bottle of brandy in his fist. |