or nidget, subs. (old).—A fool. See BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.—B. E. (c. 1696); A New Canting Dictionary (1725); BAILEY (1728); MATSELL (1859).
d. 1623. CAMDEN, Remaines, ‘Languages.’ There was one true English word of as great, if not greater force than them all, now out of all use … it signifieth as it seemeth, no more than abject, base-minded, false-hearted, coward, or NIDGET.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. NIGIT, a fool, seemingly a corruption and contraction of the words an idiot.
1867. W. H. SMYTH, Sailor’s Word-Book, 497, s.v. NIDGET. A coward. A term used in old times for those who refused to join the royal standard.
