or nib, subs. (old colloquial: now recognised).—1. Originally the bill of a bird; hence the face, mouth, or nose: specifically [B. E. (c. 1696), GROSE (1785), and MATSELL (1859)] of a woman.
c. 1225. The Ancren Riwle, 90. Scheau þi NEB to me.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. NEB. She holds up her NEB: she turns up her mouth to be kissed.
2. (old colloquial: now recognised).—A pen.—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785).
3. (old).—The neck.
1535. COVERDALE, Bible, Gen. viii., 11. Beholde she had broken of a leaf of an olyue tre and bare it on her NEBB.
d. 1622. BACON, Natural and Experimental History. Take a glasse with a belly and a long NEB.
