Etymology From Middle English nodden, probably from an unrecorded Old English *hnodian (“to nod, shake the head”), from Proto-West Germanic *hnodōn, from Proto-Germanic *hnudōną (“to beat, rivet, pound, push”), from Proto-Indo-European *kendʰ-, from *ken- (“to scratch, scrape, rub”). Compare Old High German hnotōn (“to shake”), hnutten (“to shake, rattle, vibrate”) (> modern dialectal German notteln, nütteln (“to rock, move back and forth”)), Faroese njóða (“to clench a nail”), Icelandic hnjóða (“to rivet, clinch”), Faroese noða (“to double by bending”), Icelandic hnoða (“to clinch, rivet”).
Ambitransitive To incline the head up and down, as to indicate agreement.
‘She has big breasts’, Chuck said. ‘Who? Patty? Oh yes.’ Hentman nodded. ‘Well, it’s that operation they give in Hollywood and New York. It’s more the rage now than the dilation, and she’s had that done, too.’1964, Philip K. Dick, “TWELVE”, in Clans of the Alphane Moon, United States: Ace Books, →OCLC; republished London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1996, →ISBN, page 173:
2
Ambitransitive To briefly incline the head downwards as a cursory greeting.
3
Ambitransitive To sway, move up and down.
By every wind that nods the mountain pine.1818, John Keats, “Book I”, in Endymion: A Poetic Romance, London: […] T[homas] Miller, […] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 1:
Frail snowdrops that together cling / and nod their helmets, smitten by the wing / of many a furious whirl-blast sweeping by.1819, William Wordsworth, On Seeing a Tuft of Snowdrops in a Storm:
4
To gradually fall asleep.
5
To signify by a nod.
They nodded their assent.
6
To make a mistake by being temporarily inattentive or tired
With the hosts not able to find their passes - everything that went forward was too heavy or too short - Terry once again had to come to his side's rescue after Davies had brilliantly nodded into the path of Elmander, who followed up swiftly with a deflected shot.2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC:
Though the title nods to the Italian neo-realist classic Bicycle Thieves—and Cyril, much like the father and son in that movie, spends much of his time tracking down the oft-stolen possession—The Kid With A Bike isn’t about the bike as something essential to his livelihood, but as his sole connection to the freedom and play of childhood itself.March 15 2012, Soctt Tobias, The Kid With A Bike [Review]
9
Slang To fall asleep while under the influence of opiates.
Etymology From Middle English nodden, probably from an unrecorded Old English *hnodian (“to nod, shake the head”), from Proto-West Germanic *hnodōn, from Proto-Germanic *hnudōną (“to beat, rivet, pound, push”), from Proto-Indo-European *kendʰ-, from *ken- (“to scratch, scrape, rub”). Compare Old High German hnotōn (“to shake”), hnutten (“to shake, rattle, vibrate”) (> modern dialectal German notteln, nütteln (“to rock, move back and forth”)), Faroese njóða (“to clench a nail”), Icelandic hnjóða (“to rivet, clinch”), Faroese noða (“to double by bending”), Icelandic hnoða (“to clinch, rivet”).
1
An instance of inclining the head up and down, as to indicate agreement, or as a cursory greeting.
2
A reference or allusion to something.
Much like Mirror Mirror, Huntsman appears to borrow liberally from other fantasy films. Sometimes the nods are clever—Stewart’s first night in the forest, among hallucinatory fog that gives the trees faces and clutching hands, evokes Disney’s animated Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs from 1937.2012 May 31, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Review: Snow White And The Huntsman”, in AV Club:
Early into Zootopia 2, a character celebrates how easy it was to teach everyone to “set aside their differences and solve bias and prejudice forever”—a winking nod towards the mixed reception of the first film’s themes.2025 November 25, Caroline Siede, “Zootopia 2 is a stagnant sequel with one stellar subplot”, in AV Club:
3
A nomination.
For the fifth time in her career she received a Grammy nod, she has yet to win the award.
Allen Gregory DeLongpre: Really putting a damper on the ol' Tony nod.2011 Allen Gregory, "Pilot" (season 1, episode 1)
The plan is expected to get the nod from councillors at the next meeting.
Has the BRB received a secret nod from the Ministry to continue the LMR electrification from Weaver Junction to Glasgow?1964 August, “News and Comment: One main line to Scotland?”, in Modern Railways, page 86:
5
A state of half-consciousness; stupor.
Withered addicts drooped into chronic heroin nods.1988 August 20, Wickie Stamps, “Voluptuous Nudes and Withered Addicts”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 6, page 7: