nought

n pron. “nawt” the digit zero. It’s an Old English word meaning “nothing” still used in northern regional English. Also occasionally used in the U.S., along with its more common American sibling, “aught.”

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noughts and crosses

n tic-tac-toe.

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nouse

n knowledge. Pronounced like “mouse” with an N on the front of it. Not pronounced like “no use”.

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nowt

n Northern England nothing.

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number plate

n license plate. I already wrote about this under my entry for “registration” and I’ll be damned if I’m writing any more.

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numpty

n Scottish idiot, in a friendly sort of a way: You’ve parked in a disabled space, you numpty.

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nutter

n someone with a screw loose. This applies to both the “insane” or “reckless” definitions, so a gentleman who scaled the Eiger naked and a chap who ate both of his parents could both validly be “nutters,” albeit in slightly different ways.

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