subs. (old: now recognised).—1. A trifle; a toy; a curio. Also KNICK-KNACK. See KNACK, sense 2. Hence, NICK-NACKATORY, NICK-NACKERY and NICK-NACKY.—GROSE (1785).
1580. G. HARVEY, Two Other Letters, &c., in Wks. (GROSART), i., 80. Jugling castes and KNICKKNACKES, in comparison of these.
1618. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Loyal Subject, ii., 1.
| But if ye use these KNICK-KNACKS, | |
| This fast and loose, with faithful men, and honest, | |
| You’ll be the first will find it. |
d. 1704. T. BROWN, Works, (1760), ii., 15. For my part, I keep a NICKNACKATORY, or toy-shop.
1721. AMHURST, Terræ-filius, No. 34, ii., 183. I went with two or three friends, who were members of the university, to the musæum, (vulgarly called the NICK-NACKATORY.
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, VIII., x. Besides the extraordinary neatness of the room, it was adorned with a great number of NICKNACKS, and curiosities, which might have engaged the attention of a virtuoso.
1753. RICHARDSON, The History of Sir Charles Grandison, V. 71 (ed. 1812). I know he has judgement in NICK-KNACKATORIES, and even as much as I wish him in what is called taste.
1790. D. MORISON, Poems, 458.
| Blankets and sheets a fouth I hae o’ baith, | |
| And in the kist, twa webs of wholesome claith; | |
| Some ither NICK NACKS, sic as pot and pan, | |
| Cogues, caps, and spoons, I at a raffle wan. |
1824. S. E. FERRIER, The Inheritance, i., 86. His dressing-room is a perfect show, so neat and NICK-NACKY.
1849. BULWER-LYTTON, The Caxtons, I., iv. One of those fancy stationers common in country towns, and who sell all kinds of pretty toys and NICK-NACKS.
1876. C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 7. Chimney ornaments and her sideboard ‘NICK-NACKERY’ on the pembroke table.
2. (venery).—The female pudendum: see MONOSYLLABLE.
3. in pl. (venery).—The testes; CODS (q.v.).
