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

Nodel The lion in the beast-epic called Reynard the Fox. Nodel represents the regal element of Germany; Isengrim, the wolf, represents the baronial element; and Reynard represents the church element.

Noël Christmas day, or a Christmas carol. A contraction of nouvelles (tidings), written in old English, nowells.

“A child this day is born,
A child of high renown,
Most worthy of a sceptre,
A sceptre and a crown.
Nowells, nowells, nowells!
Sing all we may,
Because that Christ, the King,
Was born this blessed day.”
Old Carol.

Nokomis Daughter of the Moon. Sporting one day with her maidens on a swing made of vine canes, a rival cut the swing, and Nokomis fell to earth, where she gave birth to a daughter named Wenonah.

Nolens Volens Whether willing or not. Two Latin participles meaning “being unwilling (or) willing.”

Noli me Tangere Touch me not. The words Christ used to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection. It is the motto of the Order of the Thistle. A plant of the genus impatiens. The seed vessels consist of one cell in five divisions, and when the seed is ripe each of these, on being touched, suddenly folds itself into a spiral form and leaps from the stalk. (See Darwin: Loves of the Plants, ii. 3.)

Noll Old Noll. Oliver Cromwell was so called by the Royalists. Noll is a familiar contraction of Oliver- i.e. Ol,' with an initial liquid.

Nolle Prosequi [Don't prosecute ] A petition from a plaintiff to stay a suit (See Non Pros .)