nuzzle 
Speedy and vehement were the Reformations of all the 
good Kings of Juda, though the people had beene nuzzl'il 
in Idolatry never so long before. 
Milton, Reformation in Eng. , ii. 
II. intraiin. 1. To nose; burrow with the 
nose ; rub noses. 
And Hole, that like a mnuHing Mole doth make 
llis way still underground, till Thamis he overtake. 
Spenser, V. Q., IV. xi. 32. 
2. To touch or feel something with the nose. 
Help, all good fellows ! See you not that I am a dead man? 
They [the sharks] are nuzzling already at my toes ! He hath 
hold of my leg ! Kingdey, Westward Ho, p. 286. 
3. To go with the nose toward the ground. 
Sir Roger shook his ears and nuzzled along, well satisfied 
that he was doing a charitable work. 
Arbuthnot, Hist. John Bull. 
She mopes, she nuzzles about in the grass and chips. 
5. Judd, Margaret, i. 6. 
4. To nestle. 5. To loiter; idle. [Prov.Eng.] 
N. W. An abbreviation of northwest. 
N-way (en'wa), a. Having n independent 
modes of spread or variation. 
ny 1 !, n. [Also nye; < ME. ny, ni, < OP. ni, < L. 
nidus, a nest: see nide. Hence, by loss of n, 
eye 2 , a nest, eyas, etc. Cf. mas.] A nest. 
ny'-'t. A contraction of ne I, not I or nor I. 
Chaucer. 
ny s t, adv. and a. A Middle English variant of 
nigh. 
nyast (nl'as), n. See nias. 
nycet, An obsolete spelling of nice. 
nyceteti " An obsolete spelling of nicety. 
nychthemeron (nik-the'me-ron), n. [< Gr. m%- 
8i//iepov, a day and night, neut. of vvxffquepof, of 
a day and night, lasting a day and night, < vi'f 
(WKT-), night (= L. nox (noct-) = E. night), + 
tiiitpa, day.] The whole natural day, or day and 
night, consisting of twenty-four hours. 
Nyehthemerus (nik-the'me-rus), n. [NL., also 
improp. Nycthemerus; < Gr. vvxffqpepof, of a day 
and night: see nychthemeron.} A name, both 
generic and specific, of the white-and-black or 
silver pheasant of China, Phasianus nychtheme- 
rus or Nyehthemerus argentatus: so called as if 
representing night and day by its sharply con- 
trasted colors, white above and black below. 
See cut at silver. 
Nyctaginaceae (nik-taj-i-na'se-e), n. pi. [NL. 
(Lindley, 1835) , < Nyctago (-gin-) + -acea: ] Same 
as NyetagineiK. 
Nyctagiriese (nik-ta-jiu'e-e), n. pi. [NL. (A. P. 
de Candolle, 1805),'<C Nyctago (-gin-) + -ea;.] An 
order of dicotyledonous apetalpus plants of the 
series Curvembrycce, characterized by the per- 
sistent perianth-base closing about the fruit as 
an outer pericarp. About 215 species are known, of 
3 tribes and 23 genera, of which MimbiKs, the four-o'clock, 
is the type. They are usually herbs with undivided leaves, 
and flowers in flat-topped clusters, often with a spongy 
bark and an involucre imitating a calyx. 
Nyctaginia (nik-ta-jin'i-a), n. [NL. (Choisy, 
1849), so called from its resemblance to Mirn- 
bilis, which Jussieu had called Nyctago: see 
Nyctago.] A genus of apetalous plants, belong- 
ing to the tribe Mirabiliea; and the subtribe 
Boerhaaviecs, known by its many-flowered in- 
volucre of numerous separate bracts. There is 
but one species, N. capttata, from Texas, a prostrate hairy 
annual, with opposite lobed leaves, and soft downy rose- 
colored flowers. 
Nyctago (nik-ta'go), n. [NL. (A. L. de Jussieu, 
1(89, as a name tor Hirabilis), < Gr. vi>% (VVKT-), 
night (= L. nox (noct-) = E. night), + L. -ago 
(-agin-), a term, of some plant-names.] A for- 
mer synonym of MirabiHs. 
Nyctala, Nyctale (nik'ta-ia, -le), n. [NL., < 
Gr. vtro/.<5f, a 
doubtful var. 
of vuora/tof, 
drowsy.] A 
genus of owls 
of the family 
Strigida;. The 
skull and ear- 
parts are high- 
ly unsymmetri- 
cal; the outer ear 
is large and oper- 
culate; and the 
facial disk is per- 
fect, with centric 
eyes and no plu- 
micorns. There 
are 3 species, of 
small size : N. 
tenginalmi in- 
habits the north- 
erly parts of Eu- 
rope ; N. richard- 
*"ni is the corre- 
sponding American form; N. acadica. the Acadian or 
saw-whet owl, is much smaller than cither, about 7t inches 
long, and more widely distributed in North America 
4046 
nyctalopes, n. Plural of nyctalops. 
nyctalopia (nik-ta-16'pi-a), . [< LL. nyctalo- 
pia (dubious), < Gr. *WKTaAuiria (not found), 
equiv. to vwcra/iwr/amj, < itwcrdXu^i (> L. nycta- 
lops), explained and taken by ancient authors 
both as ' not being able to see at night, night- 
blind,' and as 'able to see only at night'; < vif 
(VVKT-), night, + aip, eye, V OJT, see. The form 
viiKrakirty also appears as VUKT&UI/I, as if involv- 
ing VVKTI-, combining form of vb, but the ^ re- 
mains unexplained; it is perhaps due to con- 
fusion with vim-a/lof, a doubtful var. of vvoraMc, 
drowsy.] 1. Night-blindness. 2. Day-blind- 
ness. 
nyctalopia (uik-ta-lop'ik), a. [< nyctalopia + 
-ic.] Pertaining to or of the nature of nycta- 
lopia ; affected with nyctalopia. 
nyctalops (nik'ta-lops), n. ; pi. nyctalopes (nik- 
tal'o-pez). [< L". nyctalops = GrT. muTa^u^i: see 
nyctalopia.'] One who is afflicted with nycta- 
lopia. 
nyctalopy (nik'ta-16-pi), n. [< F. nyctalopie, < 
LL. nyctalopia : see nyctalopia.] SameasH^cta- 
lopia. 
Nyctanthes (nik-tan'thez), n. [NL. (Linnaaus, 
1737), so called because the flower opens at 
evening and closes at sunrise ; < Gr. vvf (VVK.T-), 
night, + avBof, flower.] A genus of fragrant 
arborescent shrubs of the monopetalous order 
Oleacew and the tribe Jasminew. There is but one 
species, N. Arbor -tristis, native of eastern India, and widely 
cultivated in the tropics, with rough opposite ovate leaves, 
and showy flowers in terminal cymes, white with an orange 
eye and tube. The flowers open only at night, and toward 
the end of the rainy season load the air with an exquisite 
fragrance. They afford a perfumers' essence, and an im- 
permanent orange dye. It is the hirsinghar-tree of India, 
otherwise named night-jasmine and tree-of-sadnefs. 
Nyctea (nik'te-a), n. [NL., < Gr. vi'f (WKT-), 
night : see night.'] A genus of Strigida; of great 
size and extensively white color, with rudimen- 
tary plumicorns, very shaggy paws, and the 
bill nearly buried in feathers ; the snow-owls. 
There is but one species, N. niixa or If. scandiaca, the 
great white, snowy, or northern owl, inhabiting arctic and 
subarctic latitudes of America, Asia, and Europe, usually 
migrating southward in winter. It is about 2 feet long, 
and from 4J to 5 feet in extent of wings. See cut atmow- 
tnt'l. 
Nyctemera (nik-te'me-ra), n. [NL. (Hiibner, 
1816), prop. "Ni/chtheiinefa, < Gr. vvx&i/ttpof, of 
day and night: see nychthemeron.] A rather 
aberrant genus of bombycid moths, type of the 
family Nyctemerida:, and containing about 30 
species, of wide geographical distribution. They 
are found in Africa, the East Indies, the Malay 
archipelago, Australia, and New Zealand. 
Nyctemeridae (nik-te-mer'i-de), n.pl. [NL., < 
Nyctemera + -jote.] A family of bombycid 
moths, typified by the genus Nyctemera. They 
have the body slender and the wings ample, somewhat 
resembling geometrids, and in some cases also recalling 
butterflies. About 20 genera are defined, mainly repre- 
sented by tropical forms. 
Nyctereutes (nik-te-ro'tez), . [NL., < Gr. 
vvKTcpevri]*;, one who tiuuts by night, < vvurepemiv, 
pass the night, < vvKrepof, nightly, < viij (VVKT-), 
night : see night.] A genus of Asiatic and Japa- 
Acadian or Saw-whet Owl (Nyctala 
acadica). 
Racoon-dog (NyctcrtMtes procyonoMrs). 
nese Canidaof the thooid or lupine series, con- 
taining one species, the racoon-dog, N. procyo- 
noides, with long loose fur, short ears, and short 
bushy tail. It somewhat resembles a racoon, 
and is about 2-J feet long. 
Nycteribia (nik-te-rib'i-a), n. [NL. (Latreille, 
1802), < Gr. wienplc, a bat (see Nycteris), + 0faf, 
life.] A remarkable genus of degraded wing- 
less dipterous insects, typical of the family 
Ni/Cteribiida;. They resemble spiders, and are parasites 
of bats. About 12 species are described, as If. westwoodi. 
Thegenusis represented in California, though the species 
there occurring are not yet determined. 
Nycteribiidae (nik"te-ri-bi'i-de), n.pl. [NL., < 
Nycteribia + -ida;.] A family of apterous pupip- 
arous dipterous insects, represented by the ge- 
nus Nacteribia; the bat-lice or bat-ticks. They are 
of small size, spider-like, wingless, with long legs and small 
or rudimentary eyes, and are parasitic on bats. There are 
3 or 4 genera. The North American forms which have been 
Nyctipithecinae 
determined belong to Strebla and Metjintapoda. I'sually 
written Xyctfribidae. 
Nycteridae (nik-ter'i-de), n. i>l. [NL., < Nyc- 
terin + -ida 1 .] A family of vespertilionine mi- 
crochiropteran bats, having a nose-leaf or its 
rudiments, a distinct tragus, and evident though 
small premaxillary bones. It contains the genera 
Megaderma and Nycteriit, and was formerly called Meyader- 
midce or Megudennatidai. The species are confined to the 
warmer parts of the Old World. 
Nycterides (nik-ter'i-dez), n. )>l. [NL., pi. of 
Ni/fteris, q. v.] In some systems of classifica- 
tion, a division of the mammalian order ( 'liir/ip- 
tera, including all the bats except the frugivo- 
rous species, or flying-foxes, then called 1'tem- 
eynes. 
nycterine (uik'te-rin), a. [< Nycteris + -('<!.] 
Of or pertaining' to the Nycterida: 
Nycteris (nik'te-ris), n. [NL., < Gr. vvKTcpif, a 
bat, < vi'KTepof, by night, nocturnal, < wf (VVKT-), 
night : see night.] A genus of bats of the fam- 
ily Nycteridat, related to Megaderma, but differ- 
ing so much that it has been considered the 
type of a separate subfamily. Nycterina'. The in- 
cisors are 2 above and 3 below in each half-jaw; the pre- 
molara are 1 in each upper and 2 in each lower half-jaw ; 
there is no nose-leaf proper, but the sides of the face are 
furrowed and margined with cutaneous appendages. N. 
jamnica occurs in Java, and there are several African spe- 
cies. 
Nyctharpages (nik-thiir'pa-jez), . pi. [NL., 
prop. "Nycntliarpagcs, < Gr. vff (VVKT-), night, + 
apjraf (apnay-), a robber, prop, adj., rapacious: 
see Harpax.] In Sundevall's system of classi- 
fication, the nocturnal birds of prey, or owls : 
equivalent to the Striges, Strigida;, or Accipitres 
nocturnal of other authors, and opposed to Heme- 
roharpagcs, or diurnal birds of prey. 
nyctharpagine (nik-thar'pa-jin), a. [< A^c- 
tharpages + -ine 1 .] Of or pertaining to the 
Nyctharpages. 
Nyctiardea (nik-ti-ar'de-a), n. [NL., < Gr. wf 
(vwcr-), night, + L. ardca, a heron: eeeArdea.] 
A genus of altricial grallatorial birds of the fam- 
ily Ardeida:, having a very stout bill, compara- 
tively short legs, and somewhat nocturnal hab- 
its; the night-herons. The common night-heron of 
Europe is N. nycticorax, or JV . grisea, or N. europ&a. That 
of the United States is commonly called N. yrittea nceria. 
This name of the genus is an alternative of Nycticorax. 
The yellow-crowned night-heron is usually placed in a 
different genus as Ifyctherodius violaceus. See cut under 
night-heron. 
Nyctibius (nik-tib'i-us), . [NL., < Gr. vvuri- 
fiiof, vvnTofiiof, living, i. e. feeding, by night, < 
i-i'f (VVKT-), night, + fiiof, life.] An American 
genus of goatsuckers, of the family Caprimul- 
gidaj, alone representing the Podargina; in the 
New World. The ratio of the phalanges is normal, the 
middle claw is not pectinate, the sternum is double-notch- 
ed on each side, the short tarsi are feathered, the bill is 
notched, and the eggs are colored. Several species inhabit 
the warmer parta of America, as S. grandw and N.jamai- 
ce.nffis, mostly from 12 to 20 inches in length. 
Nycticebidae (uik-ti-seb'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Nycticelus + -ida;.] The Nycticebinai rated as 
a family. 
Nycticebinae (nik"ti-se-bi'ne), n. pi. [NL., < 
Nycticebus + -ina;.] A subfamily of Lemurida;, 
containing the slow and slender lemurs, the pot- 
tos, and the angwantibos, or the genera Nyctice- 
bus (Stcnops or Bradylemur), Loris, Perodicticvs, 
and Arctocebus; the night-lemurs. The tail is short 
or rudimentary; the fore and hind limbs are of approxi- 
mately equal length ; the ears in the typical forms are 
small, with little-marked helix and obsolete tragus and 
antitragus ; and thespinous processes of the dorsolnmbar 
vertebrae are retrorse. These animals inhabit Africa and 
Asia. Lnrisirue is a synonym. 
nycticebine (nik-ti-se'bin), a. and n. I. a. Per- 
taining to the Nycticebiim, or having their char- 
acters. 
II. n. A lori or night-lemur of the subfamily 
Nycticcbina;, 
Nycticebus (nik-ti-se'bus), n. [NL., < Gr. vif 
(WKT-), night, + Kijflof, a long-tailed monkey.] 
A genus of loris of the family Lemurida; and the 
subfamily Lorisinw or Nycticebinw, including 
the slow loris, as Nycticebus tardigradiis, of the 
East Indies. Also called Stenops and Brady- 
lemur. 
nycticorax (nik-tik'o-raks), n. [NL., < LL. nyc- 
ticorax = Gr. vvKTiKopai;, a night-jar or goat- 
sucker, < vi'f (war-), night, + /copaf, a raven. Cf. 
night-raven, night-crow.'] 1. An old book-name 
of the night-heron; also, a technical specific 
name of the European night-heron, Ardca nyc- 
ticorax. 2. [,cap.] A generic name of the 
night-herons. See Nyctiardea. 
Nyctipithecinae (nik-ti-pith-e-si'ne). w. /</. 
[NL., < Ni/etipitlicciii,- + -ina:] 'A subfamily of 
platyrrhine monkeys of South America, belong- 
ing to the family Cebida; containing the genera 
