noddlen.1
/ˈnɒdl/, U.S. /ˈnɑd(ə)l/ 1. † a. The back of the head. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > back of head > [noun]
occiputa1398
noddlea1425
puppe?a1425
hind-head1617
occipitium1650
back-head1836
a1425 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 633 Hoc occipud, nodulle capitis.
?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 114v (MED) Þu schalt haue anoþer streite roller..and putte þe midwarde þerof euen apon þe nose & lede þe endes euen to þe nodel bihynde abouen þe eres.
c1450 (?c1425) St. Elizabeth of Spalbeck in Anglia (1885) 8 108 (MED) Sche smytes hir-selfe in þe nodel of the hede byhynde.
c1450 Med. Recipes (BL Add. 33996) in F. Heinrich Mittelengl. Medizinbuch (1896) 65 As ofte þou anoynte þyne heued in þe nodul [v.r. nuddol] be hynde wyþ hoot watur.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) xliv. 213 On his noddle darkely flamyng Was set Saturne..And Jupiter amiddes his foreheade.
1541 T. Elyot Castel of Helthe (new ed.) 10 b Imagination in the forheed: Reason in the braine: Remembrance in the nodell.
1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 6 They rippe in sunder the noddle of his head.
1577 Vicary's Profitable Treat. Anat. sig. C.ivv A bone of the hinder part of the head called the Noddel of the head.
1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads 62 His strong sharp-pointed spear..lighting Behind upon the noddle of his head.
1683 in J. F. Davis Chinese I. ii. 48 The inhabitants were ordered..to shave all their hairs off,..pendent from the very noddle of their heads.
b. The head. Now colloquial or humorous.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > [noun]
nolleOE
headOE
topa1225
copc1264
scalpa1300
chiefc1330
crownc1330
jowla1400
poll?a1400
testea1400
ball in the hoodc1400
palleta1425
noddle?1507
costard?1515
nab?1536
neck1560
coxcomb1567
sconce1567
now1568
headpiece1579
mazer1581
mazardc1595
cockcomb1602
costrel1604
cranion1611
pasha1616
noddle pate1622
block1635
cranium1647
sallet1652
poundrel1664
nob1699
crany?1730
knowledge box1755
noodle1762
noggin1769
napper1785
garret1796
pimple1811
knowledge-casket1822
coco1828
cobbra1832
coconut1834
top-piece1838
nut1841
barnet1857
twopenny1859
chump1864
topknot1869
conk1870
masthead1884
filbert1886
bonce1889
crumpet1891
dome1891
roof1897
beanc1905
belfry1907
hat rack1907
melon1907
box1908
lemon1923
loaf1925
pound1933
sconec1945
nana1966
?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 48 Weil couth I keyth his cruke bak and kemm his kewt noddill.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 62 His nodil in crossewise wresting downe droups to the growndward.
1647 J. Howell New Vol. of Lett. 110 The late Queene of Spaine took off one of her chapines, and clowted Olivares about the noddle with it.
1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. i. 39 Quoth he, My Head's not made of brass As Frier Bacon's noddle was.
1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses v. 20 If they offer'd to come into the Warehouse, then strait went the Yard slap over their Noddle.
1755 J. Shebbeare Lydia (1769) II. 191 Master Doctor, having thatched his noddle with his enormous periwig,..sallied forth.
1825 W. Scott Let. 16 May (1935) IX. 115 The fine bust he cut of my poor noddle three years ago.
a1863 W. M. Thackeray Denis Duval i, in Cornhill Mag. (1864) Mar. 260 Many a smart rap with the rolling-pin have I had over my noddle.
a1897 T. E. Brown Coll. Poems (1900) ii. 249 She turned and looked like thunder at us—And, upon my word, there's a lot of thunder 'll go in a little noddle like yonder.
1898 S. Macmanus Bend of Road 209 Lookin' as an oul' crow that was turned grey in the noddle with roguery.
1957 Recorded Interview (Brit. Libr. Sound Archive) (Survey Eng. Dial.: C908) (MS transcript) Track 61 [Suffolk] You stand there with a stick and give em one in the noddle to make em take it.
1984 K. Amis Stanley & Women i. 52 A bald noddle with flowing locks down to the shoulder on one side only.
1992 I. Banks Crow Road x. 240 Now lie down properly; noddles on pillows.
c. colloquial. The head as the seat of the mind or thought (frequently in contexts suggesting emptiness or stupidity).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > [noun] > empty or stupid head
skull1523
jolthead1533
fool's head1577
jolting pate1579
noddle1579
jobbernowl1598
loggerhead1598
cod's head1607
squirrel's brains1647
jolterhead1699
numbskull1718
fiddle-head1887
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > [noun] > as seat of mind
noddle1579
pate1598
the (also one's) upper storey (also storeys)1699
gourda1844
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 656/1 The diuell..putteth into their braines and foolishe noddles to make great shewes.
1594 J. Lyly Mother Bombie ii. i. sig. C2v Let me alone,..there's matter in this noddle.
1611 W. Baker in T. Coryate Crudities sig. g2 Thy worke (which is the moddell Of most the wit enskonsed in thy noddell).
1654 R. Vilvain Theoremata Theologica vii. 193 He frams a new Moon-calf-model of Heaven..after his own Pythagorean Noddle.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 178. ⁋2 These Reflections..seize the Noddles of such as were not born to have Thoughts of their own.
1755 B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sci. 123 All the senseless Whimsies that have possessed the Noddles of the credulous Vulgar.
1793 W. Cowper Let. 24 July (1984) IV. 372 Laying his own foolish noddle and the carpenter's foolish noddle together.
1840 R. H. Barham Some Acct. New Play in Ingoldsby Legends 1st Ser. 308 Lady Arundel..Perplexes her noddle with no such nice queries.
1869 A. Trollope He knew he was Right I. xxxvi. 285 Slatternly girls, without an idea inside their noddles.
1915 W. Cather Song of Lark i. xii. 83 ‘I'd like to go to Germany to study, some day.’ Dr. Archie smiled indulgently. ‘That's a long way off. Is that what you've got in your hard noddle?’
1985 L. Lochhead True Confessions 20 Until I used my noddle I was the Bohemienne Comedienne Who is an artist's model.
d. colloquial. A person, spec. a foolish person. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > [noun]
hadc900
lifesmaneOE
maneOE
world-maneOE
ghostOE
wyeOE
lifeOE
son of manOE
wightc1175
soulc1180
earthmanc1225
foodc1225
person?c1225
creaturec1300
bodyc1325
beera1382
poppetc1390
flippera1400
wat1399
corsec1400
mortal?a1425
deadly?c1450
hec1450
personagec1485
wretcha1500
human1509
mundane1509
member1525
worma1556
homo1561
piece of flesh1567
sconce1567
squirrel?1567
fellow creature1572
Adamite1581
bloat herringa1586
earthling1593
mother's child1594
stuff1598
a piece of flesh1600
wagtail1607
bosom1608
fragment1609
boots1623
tick1631
worthy1649
earthlies1651
snap1653
pippin1665
being1666
personal1678
personality1678
sooterkin1680
party1686
worldling1687
human being1694
water-wagtail1694
noddle1705
human subject1712
piece of work1713
somebody1724
terrestrial1726
anybody1733
individual1742
character1773
cuss1775
jig1781
thingy1787
bod1788
curse1790
his nabs1790
article1796
Earthite1814
critter1815
potato1815
personeityc1816
nibs1821
somebody1826
tellurian1828
case1832
tangata1840
prawn1845
nigger1848
nut1856
Snooks1860
mug1865
outfit1867
to deliver the goods1870
hairpin1879
baby1880
possum1894
hot tamale1895
babe1900
jobbie1902
virile1903
cup of tea1908
skin1914
pisser1918
number1919
job1927
apple1928
mush1936
face1944
jong1956
naked ape1965
oke1970
punter1975
1705 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft 43 John Calvin, a cunning Man, a great Scholar; and, above all, a reaching Noddle.
1709 Ld. Shaftesbury Sensus Communis: Ess. Freedom of Wit 118 If they can but produce a Set of Lancashire Noddles, remote provincial Head-Pieces,..to attest a Story of a Witch upon a Broom-Stick.
a1795 S. Bishop Poet. Wks. (1796) 1 216 What brainsick noddle spun the tether, That coupled Man and Moon together.
1827 R. M. Bird Caridorf ii. ii, in America's Lost Plays (1941) XII. 90 They may call Bullet fool, or noddle, or noodle, or poodle—ha, ha, ha!
1881 A. Trumble Slang Dict. 24/1 Noddle, an empty-pated fellow; a fool.
1959 News Chron. 17 Dec. 3/1 The dangerous noddles who boast about doing the ton on the public roads.
2. The back or nape of the neck. British regional in later use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > neck > [noun] > back of neck
napea1325
hattrelc1330
nolla1382
skull1382
polla1398
nape of the neck (also head)1440
noddle1547
niddick1558
nuke1562
nuque1578
nub1673
nod1695
cuff of the neck1740
nucha1768
scuff1787
scruff1790
scroop1850
kitchen1964
1547 W. Salesbury Dict. Eng. & Welshe at Gwegil Noddle.
1564 P. Moore Hope of Health i. v. f. viiiv Memorie is placed in the hindermost parte of the braine aboue the noddle of the necke.
1583 P. Barrough Methode of Phisicke i. xxiv. 32 After that fasten cupping glasses to the nodle of the neck.
1599 N. Breton Wil of Wit (1876) 3 I suddenly stept to him, tooke him by the Noddle and turned him to my work.
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate 33 Cupping glasses..are vsed..to set in the nodell, and on the vpper part of the shoulderblades.
1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words at Nuddle Cut a lock of hair from the nuddle of the neck.
1889 Macmillan's Mag. Sept. 358/2 Last winter I suffered terrible with the misery in my head—just in the noddle o' the neck it fared to lay.
1960 A. O. D. Claxton Suffolk Dial. 20th Cent. (ed. 2) 56 Noddle, nape of the neck.
Compounds
C1. † noddle pate n. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > [noun]
nolleOE
headOE
topa1225
copc1264
scalpa1300
chiefc1330
crownc1330
jowla1400
poll?a1400
testea1400
ball in the hoodc1400
palleta1425
noddle?1507
costard?1515
nab?1536
neck1560
coxcomb1567
sconce1567
now1568
headpiece1579
mazer1581
mazardc1595
cockcomb1602
costrel1604
cranion1611
pasha1616
noddle pate1622
block1635
cranium1647
sallet1652
poundrel1664
nob1699
crany?1730
knowledge box1755
noodle1762
noggin1769
napper1785
garret1796
pimple1811
knowledge-casket1822
coco1828
cobbra1832
coconut1834
top-piece1838
nut1841
barnet1857
twopenny1859
chump1864
topknot1869
conk1870
masthead1884
filbert1886
bonce1889
crumpet1891
dome1891
roof1897
beanc1905
belfry1907
hat rack1907
melon1907
box1908
lemon1923
loaf1925
pound1933
sconec1945
nana1966
1622 N. Breton Strange Newes in Wks. (1879) II. 11/1 Naturall capacities,..such as they were, and fitted the humour of his noddle pate.
C2. † noddle-bone n. Anatomy Obsolete the occipital bone.† noddle-case n. Obsolete a wig.† noddle-thatcher n. Obsolete a wig-maker.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > structural parts > bone or bones > skull > parts of skull > [noun] > back of skull
lambda?a1425
occiput1578
noddle-bone1611
noll-bone1615
occipital1861
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Os occipital, the noddle bone.
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 442 The fourth is called Os Occipitis the Noddle or Nowle-bone.
1681 W. Robertson Phraseologia generalis (1693) 271 The hind-head bone, or, the noddle-bone.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > wig
periwig1529
peruke?a1549
periwinkle1580
flash1699
scandalous1699
strum1699
noddle-casea1704
rug1940
a1704 T. Brown Lett. from Dead (new ed.) in Wks. (1707) II. ii. 90 Next time you have occasion for a new Noddle-case,..I'll recommend you to the honestest Periwig maker in Christendom.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 518. ¶9 A Pinch of right and fine Barcelona.., and a Noddle-case loaden with Pulvil.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making headgear > [noun] > wig-making > one who
periwig-maker1598
noddle-thatcher1716
tête-maker1789
nob thatcher1793
board-worker1927
1716–20 Lett. from Mist's Jrnl. (1722) I. 84 To deprive 20000 Noddle-Thatchers of their Livelihood.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† noddlen.2
Obsolete. rare. Now English regional.
A nodding movement of the head.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > [noun] > nodding the head > nod
nod1541
noddle1765
1756 F. Greville & F. Greville Maxims, Characters, & Refl. 70 His head goes noddle noddle, like a Chinese figure.]
1765 S. Lennox Life & Lett. (1901) I. 172 She has a noddle with her head that makes some people reckon her like me.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
† noddlev.1
Obsolete. rare.
1. intransitive. To deliver blows to the head. With on.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > beating or repeated striking > beat [verb (transitive)] > specifically a person
to-beatc893
threshOE
bustc1225
to lay on or upon?c1225
berrya1250
to-bunea1250
touchc1330
arrayc1380
byfrapc1380
boxc1390
swinga1400
forbeatc1420
peal?a1425
routa1425
noddlea1450
forslinger1481
wipe1523
trima1529
baste1533
waulk1533
slip1535
peppera1550
bethwack1555
kembc1566
to beat (a person) black and blue1568
beswinge1568
paik1568
trounce1568
canvass1573
swaddle?1577
bebaste1582
besoop1589
bumfeage1589
dry-beat1589
feague1589
lamback1589
clapperclaw1590
thrash1593
belam1595
lam1595
beswaddle1598
bumfeagle1598
belabour1600
tew1600
flesh-baste1611
dust1612
feeze1612
mill1612
verberate1614
bethumpa1616
rebuke1619
bemaul1620
tabor1624
maula1627
batterfang1630
dry-baste1630
lambaste1637
thunder-thump1637
cullis1639
dry-banga1640
nuddle1640
sauce1651
feak1652
cotton1654
fustigate1656
brush1665
squab1668
raddle1677
to tan (a person's) hide1679
slam1691
bebump1694
to give (a person) his load1694
fag1699
towel1705
to kick a person's butt1741
fum1790
devel1807
bray1808
to beat (also scare, etc.) someone's daylights out1813
mug1818
to knock (a person) into the middle of next week1821
welt1823
hidea1825
slate1825
targe1825
wallop1825
pounce1827
to lay into1838
flake1841
muzzle1843
paste1846
looder1850
frail1851
snake1859
fettle1863
to do over1866
jacket1875
to knock seven kinds of —— out of (a person)1877
to take apart1880
splatter1881
to beat (knock, etc.) the tar out of1884
to —— the shit out of (a person or thing)1886
to do up1887
to —— (the) hell out of1887
to beat — bells out of a person1890
soak1892
to punch out1893
stoush1893
to work over1903
to beat up1907
to punch up1907
cream1929
shellac1930
to —— the bejesus out of (a person or thing)1931
duff1943
clobber1944
to fill in1948
to bash up1954
to —— seven shades of —— out of (a person or thing)1976
to —— seven shades out of (a person or thing)1983
beast1990
becurry-
fan-
a1450 York Plays (1885) 268 (MED) Dose noddil on hym with neffes That he noght nappe.
2. transitive. To beat or pummel (a person) on the head.
ΚΠ
1623 J. Webster Deuils Law-case iii. iii Some women..have long'd to beat their husbands; what if I..exercise my longing Upon my tailor that way, and noddle him soundly?
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
noddlev.2
/ˈnɒdl/, U.S. /ˈnɑd(ə)l/ 1. † b. transitive. To bring into (a state) by noddling; to beat (time) by nodding the head. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To nod (the head) quickly or slightly. Now English regional (northern).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > move to and fro or up and down [verb (transitive)] > nod the head
noda1522
doddle1653
noddle1734
1734 M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1861) I. 428 Who should I see at Court last night, noddling her head, but Molly Winnington?
1773 R. Graves Spiritual Quixote I. v. xi. 309 She noddled her head, was saucy, and said rude things to one's face.
1822 T. L. Peacock Maid Marian xiii. 182 Robin struck up and played away merrily, the bishop..noddling his head, and beating time with his foot.
1865 Routledge's Mag. for Boys Feb. 109 What a pretty horse yours is, Sir..; he noddles his head so cheerfully.
1898 B. Kirkby Lakeland Words 108 Thoo may noddle thi heed, but it's true.
1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 88/1 Noddle, to tremble or shake in the head or hands... ‘He war set noddlin i' th'chimla-neuk’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > move to and fro or up and down [verb (transitive)] > nod the head > cause or effect by nodding
nod1605
noddle1788
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > duration of notes > proportion of notes or rhythm > [verb (transitive)] > mark rhythm or measure > by beating, etc.
strike1665
noddle1788
wave1851
tambourinate1913
stomp1925
stomp1973
1788 A. Seward Lett. (1811) II. 90 The profession of this personage is music,..his height and proportion..well enough by nature, but fidgeted and noddled into an appearance not over prepossessing.
1887 J. Ashby-Sterry Lazy Minstrel (1892) 201 I sit..And noddle time with languid beat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > move to and fro or up and down [verb (intransitive)] > nod the head
nodc1390
noddle1740
nug1866
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. i. 20 Like the Goose in the Fable, he will still waddle and noddle.
1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 72 He walked splay, stooping and noddling.
1753 J. Collier Ess. Art of Tormenting 160 You must noddle, and laugh, and pretend to be very merry.
1883 T. Lees Easther's Gloss. Dial. Almondbury & Huddersfield 92 Tha's bin a noddlin fooil all thi lawf, and tha goes noddlin to thi grave.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1a1425
n.21765v.1a1450
v.21734