GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 3 definitions
-
Neb (nĕb), n. [AS. nebb head, face; akin to D. neb, Icel. nef, beak of a bird, nose, Dan. naeb beak, bill, Sw. näbb, näf, and prob. also to D. sneb, snavel, bill, beak, G. schnabel, Dan. & Sw. snabel, and E. snap. Cf. Nib, Snap, Snaffle.] The nose; the snout; the mouth; the beak of a bird; a nib, as of a pen. [Also written nib.] Shak.
[1913 Webster]
-
Nib (nĭb), n. [A variabt of neb.]
1. A small and pointed thing or part; a point; a prong. “The little nib or fructifying principle.” Sir T. Browne.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) The bill or beak of a bird; the neb.
[1913 Webster]
3. The points of a pen; also, the pointed part of a pen; a short pen adapted for insertion in a holder.
[1913 Webster]
4. One of the handles which project from a scythe snath; also, [Prov. Eng.], the shaft of a wagon.
[1913 Webster]
5. pl. See his nibs, below.
[PJC]
his nibs Someone who gives a command or makes a demand, often one who acts in a self-important manner, sometimes one with authority; -- used mockingly as a jocose term, as if a title of honor, but not usually in the presence of the person referred to, and usually indicating resentment or contempt. [Colloq.]
[PJC]
-
Nib, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nebbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nibbing.] To furnish with a nib; to point; to mend the point of; as, “to nib a pen”.
[1913 Webster]