Chapter Nipperkin to Nolle Prosequi of N by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Noah's Ark A white band spanning the sky like a rainbow; if east and west expect dry weather, if north and south expect wet.

Noah's Wife [Noraida], according to legend, was unwilling to go into the ark, and the quarrel between the patriarch and his wife forms a very prominent feature of Noah's Flood, in the Chester and Townley Mysteries.

“Hastow nought herd, quod Nicholas, also
The sorwe of Noë with his felaschippe
That he had or he gat his wyf to schipe?”
Chaucer: Canterbury Tales, 3,534.

Noakes (John) or John o'Noakes. A fictitious name, formerly made use of by lawyers in actions of ejectment. His name was generally coupled with that of Tom Styles. Similarly, John Doe and Richard Roe were used. The Roman names were Titius and Seius (Juv. Sat. iv. 13). All these worthies are the hopeful sons of Mrs. Harris.

Nob (The). The head. For knob.

Nob of the First Water (A). A mighty boss; a grand panjandrum (q.v.). First water refers to diamonds. (See Diamonds .)

Nobs and Snobs Nobles and pseudo-nobles. (See Mob, Snob .)

Noble An ancient coin, so called on account of the superior excellency of its gold. Nobles were originally disposed of as a reward for good news, or important service done. Edward III. was the first who coined rose nobles (q.v.), and gave 100 of them to Gobin Agace of Picardy, for showing him a ford across the river Somme, when he wanted to join his army.
   The Noble. Charles III. of Navarre (1361-1425). Soliman Tchelibi, Turkish prince at Adrianople (died 1410).

Noble Soul The surname given to Khosrû I., the greatest monarch of the Sassanian dynasty. (*, 531- 579.)

Noblesse Oblige (French). Noble birth imposes the obligation of high-minded principles and noble actions.

Noctes Ambrosianæ While Lockhart was writing Valerius, he was in the habit of taking walks with Professor Wilson every morning, and of supping with Blackwood at Ambrose's, a small tavern in Edinburgh. One night Lockhart said, “What a pity there has not been a short-hand writer here to take down all the good things that have been said!” and next day he produced a paper from memory, and called it Noctes Ambrosianæ. That was the first of the series. The part ascribed to Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, is purely supposititious.

Noctuas Athenas Ferre To carry coals to Newcastle. Athens abounded with owls, and Minerva was therefore symbolised by an owl. To send owls to Athens would be wasteful and extravagant excess.

Nod A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse. Whether you nod or whether you wink, if a horse is blind he knows it not; and a person who will not see takes no notice of hints and signs. The common use of the phrase, however, is the contrary meaning, viz. “I twig your meaning, though you speak of what you purpose; but mum's the word.”

“A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse; and there are certain understandings, in public as well as in private life, which it is better for all parties not to put into writing.”- The Nineteenth Century (July, 1893, p.6).

Nod (The Land of) (See Land Of Nod .)

Noddy A Tom Noddy is a very foolish or half-witted person, “a noodle.” The marine birds called Noddies are so silly that anyone can go up to them and knock them down with a stick. A donkey is called a Neddy Noddy.
    Minshew has a capital guess derivation, well fitted for a Dictionary of Fable. He says, “Noddy, a fool, so called because he nods his head when he ought to speak.” Just as well derive wise-man from why, because he wants to know the why of everything.