nief

Not valid in Scrabble

It's a recognised English word, but it isn't in the official NASPA Scrabble word list.

Pronunciation

/niːf/

Definition of nief

4 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

noun

(historical)A serf or bondsman born into servitude.

“That is, because the girl was his nief, or bondwoman, the daughter of one of his villains”

See all 4 definitions

noun

(historical)A serf or bondsman born into servitude.

“That is, because the girl was his nief, or bondwoman, the daughter of one of his villains”
(Ireland, Northern-England, Scotland)A clenched hand; fist.

“Ake thought if ever he was walking alone on a dark-like night and Jimmy came on him, he with his bare nieves and Jimmy with a knife, he'd stand as much chance of getting home safe as a celluloid cat that had strayed into hell[…].”
“Nestorius exploded at that and hit out. He roared and dismissed the class, hitting out with his old mottled gnarled niefs.”
“"But t' Maister can stop and hit rarely. Happen he'll mak' him joomp when he gets his nief upon him."”
(Ireland, Northern-England, Scotland)A handful or fistful.
(Ireland, Northern-England, Scotland)The handgrip of a sword or oar.

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

From Old French [Term?], from Latin nativus (“natural”). Doublet of naif and native.

7 plays · some not in Scrabble

11 playable · top: FINE (7 pts)

1 word

3 words

6 words

See every word you can make from a set of letters that includes nief, or browse word lists you can mine for high-scoring plays.

Find more plays Browse word lists