Part 178

Nic"o*tin*ism (?), n. [Nicotine + -ism.] (Med.) The morbid condition produced by the excessive use of tobacco.

Ni*el"lo (?), n. An impression on paper taken from the engraved or incised surface before the niello alloy has been inlaid.

Niep"ce's proc"ess (?). (Photog.) A process, now no longer used, invented by J. N. Niepce, a French chemist, in 1829. It depends upon the action of light in rendering a thin layer of bitumen, with which the plate is coated, insoluble.

Nig"ger*head` (?), n. A strong black chewing tobacco, usually in twisted plug form; negro head.

Nig"gle, v. t. 1. To use, spend, or do in a petty or trifling manner.

2. To elaborate excessively, as in art.

Nig"gle, v. i. (Chiefly Eng.) 1. To move about restlessly or without result; to fidget.

2. To be finicky or excessively critical; to potter; esp., to work with excessive care for trifling details, as in painting.

Nig"gling (?), n. Finicky or pottering work; specif. (Fine Arts), minute and very careful workmanship in drawing, painting, or the like, esp. when bestowed on unimportant detail.

{ Night letter, Night lettergram }. See Letter, above.

Night terrors. (Med.) A sudden awkening associated with a sensation of terror, occurring in children, esp. those of unstable nervous constitution.

Ni*grit"ic (?), a. (Ethnol.) Pertaining to, or having the characteristics of, negroes, or of the Negritos, Papuans, and the Melanesian races; negritic.

||Ni"sus (?), n. (Physiol.) (a) The periodic procreative desire manifested in the spring by birds, etc. (b) The contraction of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles to evacuate feces or urine.

Nix"ie (?). 1. Nothing. [Slang]

2. (U. S. Mail Service) A piece of mail matter which cannot be delivered, either because no post office exists at the place to which is it addressed, or because there is no place of the name mentioned in the designated State, Territory, or the like.

Nixie clerk. A post-office clerk in charge of the nixies.

||Ni*zam" (?), n.; pl. Nizam. [Turk. nizm.] A regular soldier of the Turkish army. See Army organization, above.

No*bel" prizes (?). Prizes for the encouragement of men and women who work for the interests of humanity, established by the will of A. B. Nobel (1833-96), the Swedish inventor of dynamite, who left his entire estate for this purpose. They are awarded yearly for what is regarded as the most important work during the year in physics, chemistry, medicine or physiology, idealistic literature, and service in the interest of peace. The prizes, averaging $40,000 each, were first awarded in 1901.

No"bert's lines (?). [After F. A. Nobert, German manufacturer in Pomerania.] Fine lines ruled on glass in a series of groups of different closeness of line, and used to test the power of a microscope.

No"bi*li's rings (?). [After Leopoldo Nobili, an Italian physicist who first described them in 1826.] (Physics) Colored rings formed upon a metal plate by the electrolytic disposition of copper, lead peroxide, etc. They may be produced by touching with a pointed zinc rod a silver plate on which is a solution of copper sulphate.

Noil (?), n. [Prob. fr. Prov. E. oil, ile, ail, a beard of grain (OE. eil, AS. egl) combined with the indef. article, an oil becoming a noil.] A short or waste piece or knot of wool separated from the longer staple by combing; also, a similar piece or shred of waste silk.

Non*mor"al (?), a. Not moral nor immoral; having no connection with morals; not in the sphere of morals or ethics; not ethical.

Non*un"ion (?), a. 1. Not belonging to, or affiliated with, a trades union; as, a nonunoin carpenter.

2. Not recognizing or favoring trades unions or trades-unionists; as, a nonunion contractor. -- Non*un"ion*ism (#), n.

Nor"folk (?), n. Short for Norfolk Jacket.

Norfolk dumpling. (Eng.) (a) A kind of boiled dumpling made in Norfolk. (b) A native or inhabitant of Norfolk.

Norfolk jacket. A kind of loose-fitting plaited jacket, having a loose belt.

Norfolk plover. The stone curlew.