Nigel

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English

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Etymology

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English form of Latin Nigellus, from nigellus (slightly black), diminutive of niger ((shining) black), particularly used in the Middle Ages to Latinize Norman Néel and Irish Neil.

Pronunciation

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Proper noun

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Nigel

  1. A male given name from Latin, of mostly British usage.
    • 1822, Walter Scott, chapter XXIII, in The Fortunes of Nigel:
      'I thought, sir,' answered Nigel, with as much haughtiness as was consistent with the cool distance he desired to preserve, 'I thought I had told you, my name was Nigel Grahame.'
      His eminence of Whitefriars on this burst into a loud, chuckling, impudent laugh, repeating the word, till his voice was almost inarticulate, - 'Niggle Green - Niggle Green - Niggle Green! why, my lord, you would be queered in the drinking of a penny pot of Malmsey, if you cry before you are touched.'

Derived terms

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  • Nigella (feminine form)
  • Niyjale (rare; African-American)
  • Nige (colloquial, UK and Australian)

Noun

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Nigel (plural Nigels)

  1. (Australia, derogatory, youth slang) Synonym of dweeb (boring or socially inept person)
    He's such a Nigel, hanging around in the library all day by himself.
  2. (slang, derogatory) An Englishman.

Synonyms

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Anagrams

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Cebuano

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Etymology

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From English Nigel.

Pronunciation

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  • Hyphenation: Ni‧gel

Noun

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Nigel

  1. a male given name from English [in turn from Latin]