nief
nounEtymology From Middle English neve (“the clenched hand, fist”), from Old Norse nefi, hnefi (also knefi) ("hand, fist, handful"), from Proto-Germanic *hnefô, from Proto-Indo-European *knep- (“to scrape, scratch, grind”), from Proto-Indo-European *ken- (“to scratch, scrape”). Cognate with Scots neif (“fist”), Norwegian neve, Danish næve, Swedish näve, Middle High German nevemez (“handful”).
1
Ireland, Northern England, Scotland A clenched hand; fist.
- Ake thought if ever he was walking alone on a dark-like night and Jimmy came on him, he with his bare nieves and Jimmy with a knife, he'd stand as much chance of getting home safe as a celluloid cat that had strayed into hell[…].1934, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Grey Granite, Polygon, published 2006, A Scots Quair, page 597:
- Nestorius exploded at that and hit out. He roared and dismissed the class, hitting out with his old mottled gnarled niefs.1989, Anthony Burgess, The Devil's Mode:
1 more example
- "But t' Maister can stop and hit rarely. Happen he'll mak' him joomp when he gets his nief upon him."2004, Jeff Silverman, The Greatest Boxing Stories Ever Told, page 160:
2
Ireland, Northern England, Scotland A handful or fistful.
3
Ireland, Northern England, Scotland The handgrip of a sword or oar.
- Related terms
- nievling