AS NICE AS A NANNY-HEN, phr. (old).—Very affected; delicate. Cf. NUN’S HEN.

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  [?].  M.S. Lambeth, 306, f. 135.

        Women, women, love of women
Make bare purs with some men.
Some be NYSE AS A MANNE HENE,
      Ȝit al thei be nat so;
Some be lewde, some all be shreude,
      Go schrewes where thei goo.

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  1611.  COTGRAVE, Dictionarie [HALLIWELL]. … AS NICE AS NUNNES HENNE.

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