Night

NIGHT, sb. and v. Var. dial. uses in Sc. and Eng. Also in forms neet Nhb.1 Wm. ne.Yks.1 e.Yks. w.Yks. Lan.1 n.Lan.1 e.Lan.1 m.Lan.1 nw.Der.1 n.Lin.1; nicht Sc. (Jam.) [nait, nīt, Sc. niχt.] 1. sb. In comb. (1) Night-a-teenie, see below; (2) Night-bat, a ghost; (3) Night-bird, (a) the moorhen, Gallinula chloropus; (b) the Manx shearwater, Puffinus anglorum; (4) Night-blind, unable to see on account of surrounding darkness; (5) Night-bower, a bedchamber; (6) Night-bussing, a nightcap; (7) Night-cap, (a) a glass of wine, ale, or spirits, taken just before going to bed; in gen. colloq. use ; (b) a pig's stomach; (8) Night-caps, (a) the great bindweed, Convolvulus sepium; (b) the garden columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris; (c) the purple orchis, Orchis maculata; (9) Night-coal, a coal put on at night to keep the fire burning until morning; (10) Night-coore or Night-corps, a mining term: the gang or shift who work at night; (11) Night-courtship, see below; (12) Night-cowl, see (6); (13) Night-cowled, covered with a nightcap; (14) Night-creaker, a watchman's rattle; (15) Night-crow, (a) the goat-sucker, Caprimulgus Europaeus; (b) any bird which flies by night; also fig. a person fond of sitting up late; (16) Night-fad, a fold for cattle, &c. to sleep in; (17) Night-gloom, the gloaming; (18) Night-halter, the leather head-stall, with chain attached, with which horses are fastened in the stable; (19) Night-hawk, (a) see (15, a); (b) any bird that flies in the twilight; also fig. a person who ranges about at night; (c) a large white moth which flies about hedges on summer evenings; (20) Night-hawking, addicted to nocturnal wandering; (21) Night-hunter, a poacher; (22) Night-jacket, a short calico jacket worn over the chemise to sleep in; (23) Night-light, a lamp; (24) Night-man, a fairy; (25) Night-mutch, see (6); (26) Night-nighty, a very friendly good-night; also used generally to young children; (27) Night-nobby, a commode; a night-stool; (28) Night o' the greeance, see below; (29) Night-rail, a nightdress; a covering for the head worn at night; (30) Night-rakes or Night-rakers, wild fellows; (31) Night-rere, see (25); (32) Night-rider, a pixy which rides a horse at night; (33) Night-ripe, of corn: ripened too soon, so that there is no proper grain; (34) Night-ripen, of corn: to ripen without forming grain; to be blighted; (35) Night-shift, see (10); (36) Night-shrieker, a spirit whose shrieks are audible to those who are soon to die; (37) Night-side, in phr. (37) in the night-side, during the evening; (38) Night-singer, the sedge-warbler, Acrocephalus phragmitis; (39) Night-spell, obsol., a prayer for angelic guardianship during the night; (40) Night-stalker, obs., one who walks by night; (41) Night-stead, night-time; (42) Night-tig, see below; (43) Night-times, at night; (44) Night-violet, the greater butterfly-orchis, Habenaria chlorantha; (45) Night-warbler, the reed-warbler, Acrocephalus streperus; (46) Night-watch, a night patrol. (1) Lnk. He thinks na o' bairnies, nor their nicht-a-teenies; Whit cares he for fun, or a Hallowe'en nicht? McLachlan Thoughts (1884) 60; This I take to be ‘night-at-even,’ meaning nights at which children are allowed to play or sit up perhaps later than usual, or to romp when lessons are over (A.W.). (2) n.Cy. (Hall.) (3, a) Sus. From its dark plumage, Swainson Birds (1885) 178. (b) Skellig I. SWAINSON Birds 212. (4) Midl. Well, oi be claane noight-bloind, oi reckon, Bartram People of Clopton (1897) 232. (5) Sc. There the sweetest music play'd Till we did for nicht-bouer call, Kinloch Ballad Bk. (1827) 59, ed. 1868. (6) Slk. Her mutch or night-bussing, as she called it, Hogg Tales (1838) 34, ed. 1866. (7, a) Sc. It [whisky] was called in to act as an ‘eye-opener,’ and to serve also as a ‘night cap,’ Ford Thistledown (1891) 126. Heb. The stalwart defenders... had swallowed their ‘nightcaps,’ S. Tytler Macdonald Lass (1895) 103. Frf. Provost Binnie had swallowed what he called a ‘nightcap,’ which consisted of a stoup of mulled claret well spiced and fortified with a glass of brandy, Lowson Guidfollow (1890) 65. Gall. They had their nightcap together, Crockett Moss-Hags (1895) l. n.Cy. (J.W.) w.Yks.5 A night-cap is generally used when there are visitors, and seldom at any other time. Lan. He drank his ‘nightcap’ at his own fireside, Doherty N. Barlow (1884) 34. m.Lan.1, nw.Der.1, Lin.1, Nhp.1, War.3, Brks.1, Hnt. (T.P.F.) w.Som.1 I be next-kin to a taytotal, I be, but I sim I can't slape vitty, nif I han't a-got my little bit of a night-cap like, avore I goes to bed. (b) se.Wor.1 Oxf.1 MS. add. (8, a) Lin. (B. & H.), Wil.1 (b) Wil.1 (c) Der. (B. & H.) (9) Nhb.1 (10) Cor. O'Donoghue St. Knighton (1864) Gl.; He was upon ‘night coore,’ and consequently had the whole day at his disposal, Longman's Mag. (Feb. 1893) 383. (11) Cum. A Cumberland peasant pays his addresses to his sweetheart during the silence... of midnight... On his entrance into the kitchen... cream and sugared curds are placed before him... Next the courtship commences... Nothing more facilitates the designs of the seducer, than these night-courtships, Anderson Ballads (ed. 1808) 203-4. (12) Sc. Ye'll no' get out o' your nicht-cowl, Scott Antiquary (1816) viii. (13) Per. I'm nicht-cowl'd for the nicht, An' bedded too, Stewart Character (1857) 140. (14) n.Yks.1 n.Yks.2 (15, a) w.Yks.1 Nhp. Swainson Birds 97; Nhp.1, Hmp. (J.R.W.), Hmp.1, w.Som.1 Cor. Rodd Birds (1880) 315; Cor.2 (b) Lan.1 What a neet-crow thou art! Get thee to bed; tha'll never grow if ta stops up o' this way. e.Lan.1, nw.Der.1 (16) Nhb.1 (17) Lan.1 (18) w.Som.1 Nai·t-au·ltur. nw.Dev.1 (19 a) Nhb.1, Lan.1, n.Lan.1, Shr.1 Nrf. Cozens-Hardy Broad Nrf. (1893) 44. Hmp. (J.R.W.), w.Som.1 n.Dev. The whirring of the night-hawk a-wheeling round and round, now far, now near, then gone, Chanter Witch (1896) 38. Cor. Swainson Birds 97. (b) Cld. (Jam.), I.W.1 (c) Cld. (Jam.) (20) Cld. (JAM.) (21) s.Lan. Bamford Dial. (1846). w.Som.1 Th' old Jack in the Box, eens they calls'n, 's the worst night-hunter hereabout. Thick there dog hot he've a-got's a proper night-hunter. (22) Chs.1 Chs.3 (23) Sc. Night-light till my feet is that word o' yer ain, Waddell Psalms (1871) cxix. 105. (24) Lan. Yo' miss your neet-mon? Bowker Tales (1882) 57. (25) Sc. (Jam., s.v. Mutch). Cai. Ma broo hes never feelt onything bit ma bonnet an' ma nicht-mutch, Horne Countryside (1896) 109; Cai.1 Elg. Tied a nicht-mutch roun' his head, Tester Poems (1865) 151. Abd. Her nicht mutch nae aff, Alexander Johnny Gibb (1871) xvii. Dmf. Even her night-mutch did appear The vera plaits aboon her brow, Shennan Tales (1831) 75. (26) Brks.1 (27) Cor.1 (28) ne.Sc. This meeting [between the parents respectively of the young couple] goes by the name of the ‘beukin nicht,’ or the 'nicht o' the greeance,’ Gregor Flk-Lore (1881) 97. (29) Sc. Her apron took fire, set her night-rail and Stein-Kirk a-fire, and has burnt her to death, Wodrow Soc. Sel. Biog. (ed. 1845-1847) II. 511. n.Yks.2 When the shade of St. Hilda is seen in Whitby Abbey... she appears in a nightrail. Dor. Packing... your Mis'ess's night-rail and dressing-things into the cart, Hardy Tess (1891) 289, ed. 1895. (30) w.Yks. If neet-rakes hez owt to du wi a crop o wild oats, Pudsey Olm. (1877) 26; When yo get acquainted wi a lot a drinkers and neet-rakers, Tom Treddlehoyle Bairnsla Ann. (1872) 63. (31, 32) Cor.2 (33) Lin.1 sw.Lin. They cut a sheaf or two that was night-ripening, but it was like deaf corn (R.E.C.); sw.Lin.1 There's a deal of corn night-ripe, so there'll be a many deaf ears. (34) n.Lin.1 (35) Nhb.1 Nhb., Dur. Greenwell Coal Tr. Gl. (1849). (36) n.Yks.2 (37) Sh.I. If Willie id been some boys, diel wird he'd sung i' da nicht side, Sh. News (Dec. 10, 1898); Dis kirn is no laek ta brak i' da night side, Sh. News (May 26, 1900). (38) Ir. It continues its song after dark and through the night, Swainson Birds 28. (39) n.Yks.2 (40) n.Lin.1 (41) m.Yks.1 (s.v. Folkstead). (42) e.Yks.1 When the evening games are over, and the boys are about to separate, each one endeavours to give one or more his neet tig. This causes some fun, as the boy who is tigged always endeavours to return the tig, and generally succeeds many times, and the tigger only finally succeeds in evading its return by taking to his heels, MS. add. (T.H.) (43) w.Som.1 I goes to work, but I goes to school night-times. Dev. I dü veel drefful bad night-times, Hewett Peas. Sp. (1892) 137. (44) Wil.1 n.Wil. Sarum Dioc. Gazette (Jan. 1891) 14, col. 2. (45) w.Wor. Berrow's Jrn. (Mar. 3, 1888). (46) n.Yks. (T.S.) 2. Phr. (1) all night things, see below; (2) all night with you and a file of the morn's morning, a slang form of saying ‘good-night’; (3) night you go, good-night to you; (4) the night, to-night; (5) to look for night, to be idle, counting the moments to the time for leaving off work; (6) at nights, at night; each night. (1) Abd. ‘Wid ye gang oot for the a' nicht things, lassie?’.. The girl understood the order, and went away for water and peats, Greig Logie o' Buchan (1899) 99. (2) Abd. Alexander Ain Fk. (1882) 207. (3) Nrf. ‘Well, night you go.’ ‘Night you go,’ and I shoved home, Emerson Son of Fens (1892) 101. (4) Sc. I am as sick a lady the nicht As e'er lay a bower within, Jamieson Pop. Ballads (1806) I. 86. Frf. May be ye'll do't the nicht, Barrie Licht (1888) viii. Lnk. Ye'll hae to bide here the nicht, at ony rate, Gordon Pyotshaw (1885) 256. (5) n.Lin.1 Well, he was honist, I will saay that of him as is deäd an' goän, bud no sooner did I start him on his wark than he begun looking for neet, an' he fun it sooner then uther foäks an' all, for if I did n't see efter him he wod slot off hoäm by foher o'clock. (6) Wm. At neets when 'twas meun leet, Whitehead Leg. (1859) 5. w.Yks. (J.W.) Lan. Stay wi' her at neets, Eavesdropper Vill. Life (1869) 108. 3. Any time after noon, esp. the time after the day's work is over; the evening. Sc. (W.C.) e.Dur.1 Heard a woman parting from another at 3.30 p.m., say, ‘Good night.’ ne.Yks.1 Beginning from ‘lowzin tahm,’ about 5 p.m. w.Yks. (J.W.) n.Lin.1 We'll drop it, maates, it's goän six, it's neet. w.Som.1 ‘I'll do it vor ee m' bye night,’ even if said in the summer, would mean ‘this evening after six.’ 4. A ‘curtain-lecture.’ Sh.I. I gat me a night frae Girzzie, or dan Guid haud his haand aboot a', Sh. News (May 29, 1897). 5. pl. Obs. or obsol. Used instead of ‘days’ in reckoning time. Der.1 Ashbourn Fair, Oct. 9, they call the nine nights' Fair; i.e. nine nights after Michs. 6. pl. Used as adv.: at night; every night. Cf. day, 9. Wor. John goes to-days, but comes home nights, N. & Q. (1879) 5th S. xi. s.Wor. 'Er's pretty well now, but 'er complains at times nights (H.K.). Glo. I... went to school nights, Roger Plowman, 13. Som. I d' be zcar'd t'hear 'em or zee 'em nights now, Leith Lemon Verbena (1895) 74. 7. v. To darken; to cover with night. Sc. The sun 'clipse nichted a' the lan' (Jam.). Hence Nighted, ppl. adj. (1) benighted; also used fig.; (2) darkened; covered with night. (1) Sc. (Jam.) Ayr. An nighted trav'llers are allur'd To their destruction, Burns Address to Deil (1785) st. 12. e.Lth. Then shall he lichten a' the ways O' each puir nichted dreamer, Mucklebackit Rhymes (1885) 57. Edb. Hail! nighted stranger, sweet,.. Come and partake of nature's bower, Learmont Poems (1791) 227. Dmf. Some nichtit traveller, storm-sted, Was lairt ayont the hill, Reid Poems (1894) 64. Slk. She had been nightit and stayed there till day, Hogg Tales (1838) 187, ed. 1866. (2) Fif. Abroad the signal of dispersion blew that the wide multitude Should now break up its mass, and leave the nighted ground, Tennant Anster (1812) 126, ed. 1871. 8. To spend the night; to lodge for the night. Abd. They nighted for their own pay in the Old town, Spalding Hist. Sc. (1792) I. 291. Slk. You an' I shall never night thegither in the same house, Hogg Tales (1838) 56, ed. 1866. 9. To spend the evening with; to visit after dark. Sc. ‘How often did he come to see you?’.. ‘He nichted me twice a week regularly,’ Tweeddale Moff (1896) iv. 10. To stop work for the day; to cease from labour when daylight closes. Sc. (Jam. Suppl.) Hence Nichting-time, sb. the time when daylight closes and outdoor labour ceases during the winter season. (JAM. Suppl.)

NIGHT, sb. s.Lan.1 In comp. (1) Night-jacket, a nightdress; (2) Night-poultice, oatmeal porridge taken for supper.