or nod, noddie-noddipole, noddy-pole, noddy-pate, noddy-peake, subs. (old).—1. A simpleton: see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD. Also TOM NODDY.—GROSE (1785).
1540. HEYWOOD, The Four P’s [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, i. 360]. If I denied, I were a NODDY.
1557. MORE, Works, 709. Or els so foolyshe, that a verye NODY-POLL nydote myght be ashamed to say it.
1562–3. Jack Juggler [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, ii. 130].
| It would grieve my heart, so help me God, | |
| To run about the streets like a masterless NOD. |
1567. EDWARDS, Damon and Pithias [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, iv. 17].
| Ere you came hither, poor I was somebody; | |
| The king delighted in me, now I am but a NODDY. |
1589. PUTTENHAM, Art of English Poesie, B. 1. xx. As we find of Irus the beggar, and Thersites the glorious NODDIE, whom Homer makes mentions of.
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Coglione, a NODDIE, a foole.
1606. The Return from Parnassus, Prologue [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, ix. 102]. Momus. Gentlemen, you that can play at NODDY, or rather play upon NODDIES.
1610. JONSON, The Alchemist, iv. 2. Kas. Nay, see: she will not understand him! gull, NODDY.
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Benet. A simple, plaine, doltish fellow; a NODDIPEAKE, a ninny-hammer, a pea-goose, a cox, a sillie companion.
1614. Terence in English. Vix tandem sensi stolidus. I now yet scarse perceive it, foole that I am; I now at length hardly understand with much adoe, whorson NODIPOL that I am.
1662. Rump Songs, ii. 55.
| There is another proverb which every NODDY, | |
| Will jeer the R U M P with, and cry Hoddy-doddy, etc. |
1675. COTTON, Burlesque upon Burlesque: or, The Scoffer Scofft [Works (1725), 203]. What would’st thou have me such a NODDY.
1691–2. SWIFT, Actæon, in Gentlemen’s Journal, Feb., p. 24.
| Diana, whom poetic NODDIES | |
| Would have us think to be some goddess. |
1848. E. Z. C. JUDSON (‘Ned Buntline’), The Mysteries and Miseries of New York, iv. Open a jewelry store, you NODDY, ’ow ’re you goin’ to do that?
2. (old).—See quots.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. NODDY a kind of buggy or one horse chaise, with a seat before it for a driver, used in and about Dublin in the manner of a hackney coach.
1847. J. E. WALSH, Sketches of Ireland Sixty Years Ago, 77. [The ‘Ringsend car’] was succeeded by the ‘NODDY,’ so called from its oscillating motion backwards and forwards.
1883. R. L. STEVENSON, The Treasure of Franchard, v. Jean-Marie led forth the Doctor’s NODDY.
Adj. (old).—Simple; foolish.
1595. SHAKESPEARE, Two Gentlemen of Verona, i. 1. S. She did nod, and I said, I. P. And that set together is NODDY. S. Now you have taken the pains to set it together, take it for your pains.
KNAVE NODDY, subs. phr. (old).—The knave of trumps.—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1823).
1757. FOOTE, The Author, ii. 1, The Modern British Drama (1811), V., 281. Mrs. Cad. You want four, and I two, and my deal: now KNAVE NODDY—no, hearts be trumps.
