nief

WOTD - 30 July 2010    

English

Pronunciation

• IPA: /niːf/

Etymology 1

From Old French, from Latin nativus (“natural”).

Noun

nief (plural niefs)

1. A serf or bondsman born into servitude.
   • 1886, "The Fight at the Pass of Coleshill", The Red Dragon "Notes and Queries", page 471

     That is, because the girl was his nief, or bondwoman, the daughter of one of his villains

Alternative forms

• neif

Translations

serf or bondsman born into servitude

German: Sklave (de) m., Leibeigene (de) m.

Russian: родившийся (ru) рабом (ru) m.

Etymology 2

From Old Norse hnefi, nefi, of unknown origin.

Noun

nief (plural niefs)

1. A fist.
   • 1989, Anthony Burgess, The Devil's Mode

     Nestorius exploded at that and hit out. He roared and dismissed the class, hitting out with his old mottled gnarled niefs.

   • 2004, Jeff Silverman, The Greatest Boxing Stories Ever Told, page 160

     "But t' Maister can stop and hit rarely. Happen he'll mak' him joomp when he gets his nief upon him."

Alternative forms

• neif
• nieve

Translations

fist — see fist

Anagrams

• Enif
• fine
• ifen