or nunks, nuncle, subs. (colloquial).—An uncle [NUNCLE = mine uncle: once the customary address of the licensed fool to his superiors].
1599. HENRY PORTER, The Two Angry Women of Abingdon [DODSLEY, Old Plays, vii. 381].
| I prythee; for i faith, I should be glad | |
| To have myself called NUNCLE, and thou dad. |
1684. LACY, Sir Hercules Buffoon, ii. 3. Now good my Hony NUNCLE, let us not gea to France, but send me back to my Naunt at York again.
1760. FOOTE, The Minor, ii. p. 57. I suppose this is a spice of your foreign breeding, to let your uncle kick his heels in your hall … Sir George. Oh, a proof of my respect, dear NUNCLE.
1841. The Comic Almanack, 291, ‘Christmas Comes but Once a Year.’
| But where’s the stoic can resist, | |
| When pretty lips so sweetly coax? | |
| ‘Come, NUNKS, one game at Blindman’s-buff.’ |
1888. Sporting Life, 10 Dec. Wallace now fought him with both hands and got all the best of the exchanges. Mr. Bull, Good, my little NUNKY!
1892. W. E. HENLEY and R. L. STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, I. vii. p. 16. I don’t mind telling you that NUNKEY Lawson’s a customer of George’s.
