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Usenet Posted 19 years ago
English in UK
'Niss' or 'Nis'
I encountered this word while watching a late sixties tv drama.
It was used in the sense of calling someone a bad name as in 'you niss!'.
The only word like that I can find refers to Swedish goblins of a friendly nature (or similar) which would not seem to fit.
Is this a pre-existing word or simply one coined for the programme to avoid using a 'real' swear-word? (I was reminded of some silly science fiction programme that allegedly used such words to avoid the use of f... etc.)
Blue Sow
It was used in the sense of calling someone a bad name as in 'you niss!'.
The only word like that I can find refers to Swedish goblins of a friendly nature (or similar) which would not seem to fit.
Is this a pre-existing word or simply one coined for the programme to avoid using a 'real' swear-word? (I was reminded of some silly science fiction programme that allegedly used such words to avoid the use of f... etc.)
Blue Sow
Top answer
[/nq] Are you sure they weren't calling the person Eunice, as in the cricketer Eunice Carne? [/nq] Was the program UK or US or even Australian? I've not heard the word in Britain.
- [/nq] Are you sure they weren't calling the person Eunice, as in the cricketer Eunice Carne?
- [/nq] Was the program UK or US or even Australian?
- I've not heard the word in Britain.
- Paul Burke
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28 Answers
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[nq:1]It was used in the sense of calling someone a bad name as in 'you niss!'.[/nq]
Are you sure they weren't calling the person Eunice, as in the cricketer Eunice Carne?
[nq:1]Is this a pre-existing word or simply one coined for the programme to avoid using a 'real' swear-word?[/nq]
Was the program UK or US or even Australian? I've not heard the word in Britain.
Paul Burke
Are you sure they weren't calling the person Eunice, as in the cricketer Eunice Carne?
[nq:1]Is this a pre-existing word or simply one coined for the programme to avoid using a 'real' swear-word?[/nq]
Was the program UK or US or even Australian? I've not heard the word in Britain.
Paul Burke
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[nq:2]It was used in the sense of calling someone a bad name as in 'you niss!'.[/nq]
[nq:1]Are you sure they weren't calling the person Eunice, as in the cricketer Eunice Carne?[/nq]
It was used to refer to any number of individuals, all of whom were considered less wise, or less young, by the person saying it (and none of whom had the syllable as part of their name).
[nq:2]Is this a p
[nq:1]Are you sure they weren't calling the person Eunice, as in the cricketer Eunice Carne?[/nq]
It was used to refer to any number of individuals, all of whom were considered less wise, or less young, by the person saying it (and none of whom had the syllable as part of their name).
[nq:2]Is this a p
00
[nq:2]Are you sure they weren't calling the person Eunice, as in the cricketer Eunice Carne?[/nq]
[nq:1]It was used to refer to any number of individuals, all of whom were considered less wise, or less young, by the person saying it (and none of whom had the syllable as part of their name).[/nq]
Possibly 'nit' or 'nits' (plural).
From the OED:
"2. colloq. Originally: an insignifica
[nq:1]It was used to refer to any number of individuals, all of whom were considered less wise, or less young, by the person saying it (and none of whom had the syllable as part of their name).[/nq]
Possibly 'nit' or 'nits' (plural).
From the OED:
"2. colloq. Originally: an insignifica
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[nq:2]It was used to refer to any number of individuals, ... of whom had the syllable as part of their name).[/nq]
[nq:1]Possibly 'nit' or 'nits' (plural).[/nq]
Yes, I did consider that it might have been a variation of that as it would not have attracted the attention of the censors. Changing the word slightly did allow them to use it more forcefully than would have been possible with 'ni
[nq:1]Possibly 'nit' or 'nits' (plural).[/nq]
Yes, I did consider that it might have been a variation of that as it would not have attracted the attention of the censors. Changing the word slightly did allow them to use it more forcefully than would have been possible with 'ni
00
Why not just tell us the name of the programme rather than forcing us to guess?
John Briggs
John Briggs
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[nq:2]Possibly 'nit' or 'nits' (plural).[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes, I did consider that it might have been a variation of that as it would not have attracted the ... term does not seem to have become popular as a result of it being featured in a remarkable television series.[/nq]
I was kind of assuming you'd misheard it, especially as you're listening to a 1960's recording.
Why not let us all on
[nq:1]Yes, I did consider that it might have been a variation of that as it would not have attracted the ... term does not seem to have become popular as a result of it being featured in a remarkable television series.[/nq]
I was kind of assuming you'd misheard it, especially as you're listening to a 1960's recording.
Why not let us all on
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[nq:2]The programme is British English and was broadcast in 1969. ... are generally English). It was written by Robin Chapman (British).[/nq]
[nq:1]Why not just tell us the name of the programme rather than forcing us to guess?[/nq]
Looking at Chapman suggests that it could be either "Spindoe" or "Big Breadwinner Hog", neither of which I have ever heard of (I was aged 11 or 12 at the time
[nq:1]Why not just tell us the name of the programme rather than forcing us to guess?[/nq]
Looking at Chapman suggests that it could be either "Spindoe" or "Big Breadwinner Hog", neither of which I have ever heard of (I was aged 11 or 12 at the time
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This suggestion might be something or nothing, but there is a word "nish":
http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/n.htm
nish ****./Adv. Nothing.
OED Online has it as a variant spelling of "nesh".
"Niss" might derive from "nish" or "nesh", it might be a more recent local coining, or something else.
http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/n.htm
nish ****./Adv. Nothing.
OED Online has it as a variant spelling of "nesh".
"Niss" might derive from "nish" or "nesh", it might be a more recent local coining, or something else.
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[nq:1]I was kind of assuming you'd misheard it, especially as you're listening to a 1960's recording.[/nq]
I gathered as much, but do not think so as it appears a number of times and the sound is generally quite good.
[nq:1]Why not let us all on to the secret of what program it is? Perhaps somebody will actually have access to the scripts...[/nq]
It isn't a secret LOL
The series is
I gathered as much, but do not think so as it appears a number of times and the sound is generally quite good.
[nq:1]Why not let us all on to the secret of what program it is? Perhaps somebody will actually have access to the scripts...[/nq]
It isn't a secret LOL
The series is
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[nq:1]Why not just tell us the name of the programme rather than forcing us to guess?[/nq]
Because the question is about the word and its meaning. I have given the programme name above which you were never asked (or forced) to guess.
Blue Sow
Because the question is about the word and its meaning. I have given the programme name above which you were never asked (or forced) to guess.
Blue Sow
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