Nigel
English edit
Etymology edit
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 edit
Proper noun edit
Nigel
- 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 edit
Noun edit
Nigel (plural Nigels)
- (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.
- (slang, derogatory) An Englishman.
Synonyms edit
Anagrams edit
Cebuano edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
- Hyphenation: Ni‧gel
Noun edit
Nigel
- a male given name from English [in turn from Latin]