MISCELLINE, mixed grain; medley.

Misconceit, misconception.

Misprise, misprision, mistake, misunderstanding.

Mistake away, carry away as if by mistake.

Mithridate, an antidote against poison.

MOCCINIGO, small Venetian coin, worth about ninepence.

Modern, in the mode; ordinary, commonplace.

Moment, force or influence of value.

MONTANTO, upward stroke.

Month’s mind, violent desire.

Moorish, like a moor or waste.

MORGLAY, sword of Bevis of Southampton.

Morrice-dance, dance on May Day, etc., in which
certain personages were represented.

Mortality, death.

Mort-mal, old sore, gangrene.

MOSCADINO, confection flavoured with musk.

Mother, Hysterica passio.

Motion, proposal, request; puppet, puppet-show; “one of the small figures on the face of a large clock which was moved by the vibration of the pendulum” (Whalley).

Motion, suggest, propose.

Motley, parti-coloured dress of a fool; hence
used to signify pertaining to, or like, a fool.

Motte, motto.

MOURNIVAL, set of four aces or court cards in a hand;
a quartette.

Mow, setord hay or sheaves of grain.

Much! expressive of irony and incredulity.

MUCKINDER, handkerchief.

Mule, “born to ride on—­,” judges or serjeants-at-law formerly rode on mules when going in state to Westminster (Whally).

Mullets, small pincers.

Mum-chance, game of chance, played in silence.

Mun, must.

MUREY, dark crimson red.

Muscovy-glass, mica.

Muse, wonder.

Musical, in harmony.

Muss, mouse; scramble.

MYROBOLANE, foreign conserve, “a dried plum, brought
from the Indies.”

Mystery, art, trade, profession.

Nail, “to the—­” (ad unguem), to perfection, to the
very utmost.

Native, natural.

Neat, cattle.

Neat, smartly apparelled; unmixed; dainty.

Neatly, neatly finished.

Neatness, elegance.

Neis, nose, scent.

NEUF (NEAF, NEIF), fist.

NEUFT, newt.

NIAISE, foolish, inexperienced person.

Nice, fastidious, trivial, finical, scrupulous.

Niceness, fastidiousness.

Nick, exact amount; right moment; “set in the—­,”
meaning uncertain.

Nice, suit, fit; hit, seize the right moment, etc.,
exactly hit on, hit off.

Noble, gold coin worth 6s. 8d.