Chapter Nosey to Noyades of N by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Nosey to Noyades

Nosey The Duke of Wellington was lovingly so called by the soldiery. His “commander's nose” was a very distinguishing feature of the Iron Duke.

Nosnot-Bocai [Bo-ky ]. Prince of Purgatory. Purgatory is the “realm of Nosnot-Bocai.”

“Sir, I last night received command
To see you out of Fairy land,
Into the realm of Nosnot-Bocai;
But let not fear or sulphur choak-ye,
For he's a fiend of sense and wit.”
King: Orpheus and Eurydice.

Nostradamus (Michael). An astrologer who published an annual “Almanack,” very similar in character to that of “Francis Moore,” and a Recueil of Prophecies, in four-line stanzas, extending over seven centuries. (1503- 1566.)
   The Nostradamus of Portugal. Goncalo Annes Bandarra, a poet-cobbler, whose lucubrations were stopped by the Inquisition. (Died 1556.)
   As good a prophet as Nostradamus- i.e. so obscure that none can make out your meaning. Nostradamus was a provincial astrologer of the sixteenth century, who has left a number of prophecies in verse, but what they mean no one has yet been able to discover (French proverb.)

Nostrum means Our own. It is applied to a quack medicine, the ingredients of which are supposed to be a secret of the compounders. (Latin.)

Not in riding and driving.

“Up a hill hurry not,
Down a hill flurry not,
On level ground spare him not.”
On a Milestone in Yorkshire (near Richmond).

Not at Home Scipio Nasica was intimate with the poet Ennius. One day, calling on the poet, the servant said, “Ennius is not at home,” but Nasica could see him plainly in the house. Well, he simply walked away without a word. A few days later Ennius returned the visit, and Nasica called out, “Not at home.” Ennius instantly recognised the voice, and remonstrated. “You are a nice fellow” (said Nasica), “why, I believed your slave, and you won't believe me.”
   This tale is often attributed to Dean Swift, but, of authentic, it was a borrowed not.

Not Worth a Rap (See Rap .)

Not Worth a Rush (See Rush .)

Not Worth a Straw (See Straw .)

Not Worth Your Salt Not worth your wages. The Romans served out rations of salt and other necessaries to their soldiers and civil servants. These rations were called by the general name of salt (sal), and when money was substituted for these rations, the stipend went by the name of sal-arium.

Notables (in French history). An assembly of nobles or notable men, selected by the king, of the House of Valois, to form a parliament. They were convened in 1626 by Richeheu, and not again till 1787 (a hundred and sixty years afterwards), when Louis XVI. called them together with the view of relieving the nation of some of its pecuniary embarrassments. The last time they ever assembled was November 6th 1788.

Notarica
   A. E. I. O. U. Austria's Empire Is Over all Universal. (See A. E. I. O. U.)
   Æra. A ER. A— i.e. Anno ERat Augusti. (See Æra.)
   Cabal. Clifford, Ashley, Buckingham, Arlington, Lauderdale. (See Cabal.)
   Clio. Chelsea, London, Islington, Office. (See Clio.)
   Hempe “When hempe is spun England is done.” Henry, Edward, Mary, Philip, Elizabeth. (See Hempe.)
   Hip! hip! hurrah! Hierosolyma Est Perdita. (See Hip.)
   Ichthus. Iesous CHristos THeou Uios Soter. (See Ichthus.)
   I. T. N. O. T. G. A. O. T. U. (It-not-ga-otu)— i.e. In The Name Of The Great Architect Of The Universe. A Freemason's notarica.
   Koli. King's Own Light Infantry (the 51st Foot).
   Limp. Louis, Iames, Mary, Prince. (See Limp.)
   Maccabees. Mi Camokah, Baelim Jehovah. (See Maccabzeus.)
   News. North, East, West, South. (See News.)
   Smectymnuus. Stephen Marshall, Edmund Calamy, Thomas Young, Matthew Newcomen, Uuilliam Spurstow. (See Smec.)
   Tory. True Old Royal Yeoman.
   The following palindrome may be added: E.T.L.N.L.T.E. Eat to live, Never live to eat. In Latin thus: E.U.V.N.V.U.R. Edas