What is the origin of the word Niggle?
Apr 07, 2022 · Additionally, where does the word niggling come from? Origin uncertain, but likely borrowed from Norwegian nigla (“to be stingy”), ultimately from Old Norse verb (used without object), nig·gled, nig·gling. niggle verb [I or T] (CRITICIZE) to criticize someone about small details or give too much attention to details: She niggles endlessly over the exact pronunciation.
Is it OK to use the word “niggle” in writing?
verb (used without object), nig·gled, nig·gling. to criticize, especially constantly or repeatedly, in a peevish or petty way; carp: to niggle about the fine points of interpretation; preferring to niggle rather than take steps to correct a situation. Click to see full answer.
What is the origin of the word niggardly?
Is niggle a real word? verb (used without object), nig·gled, nig·gling. to criticize, especially constantly or repeatedly, in a peevish or petty way; carp: to niggle about the fine points of interpretation; preferring to niggle rather than take steps to correct a situation.
Is it “Niggle’s” fault that some people see “niggly” as a racial term?
Definition of niggle. (Entry 1 of 2) intransitive verb. 1 a : trifle. b : to spend too much effort on minor details. 2 : to find fault constantly in a petty way : carp she haggles, she niggles, she …
Is niggle in the dictionary?
verb (used without object), nig·gled, nig·gling. to criticize, especially constantly or repeatedly, in a peevish or petty way; carp: to niggle about the fine points of interpretation; preferring to niggle rather than take steps to correct a situation.
Is niggle a Scrabble word?
Yes, niggle is in the scrabble dictionary.
What is a niggle Australian slang?
This is a common word in Britain and Australia which refers to any slight pain or discomfort, and usually relates to a person's body. 'A niggle,' the trainer said, to which Smith jokingly snapped back: 'A what?!' 'He asked me if I had any "niggles".Jun 24, 2021
Are chiggers word?
Chiggers are tiny harvest mites, members of the family Trombiculidae, that can cause intense itching and dermatitis. Chigger may also refer to: Chigger (word), a Tasmanian synonym for the Australian word "bogan" (an unrefined or unsophisticated person) Chigger bite or Trombiculosis, the rash caused by chiggers.
What is a Nigel?
Noun. Nigel (plural Nigels) (Australia, derogatory, usually restricted to youths) A person, usually male, who is unpopular with their peers, unfashionable, socially awkward and/or introverted. He's such a Nigel, hanging around in the library all day by himself.
What's a Nagger?
Definitions of nagger. someone who annoys people by constantly finding fault. synonyms: common scold, nag, scold, scolder. types: harridan. a scolding (even vicious) old woman.
What does "niggle" mean in English?
The word niggle, which in modern usage means to give excessive attention to minor details, probably shares an etymology with niggardly. Nigger, a racial epithet in English, derives from the Spanish / Portuguese word negro, meaning " black ", and the French word nègre. Both negro and noir (and therefore also nègre and nigger) ultimately come ...
When did the word "niggardly" come out?
Letter to The Economist magazine, 1995. In 1995 , London-based magazine The Economist used the word "niggardly" in an article about the impact of computers and productivity: "During the 1980s, when service industries consumed about 85% of the $1 trillion invested in I.T. in the United States, productivity growth averaged a niggardly 0.8% a year.".
Why was a Broward County drug counsellor fired?
In November 2011, a Broward County drug counsellor was fired and another suspended for an incident in which the word "niggardly" was used. A substance-abuse client filed a complaint saying a counsellor called him "niggardly dumb" in a June meeting with two workers at a county rehab center.
What does "niggardly" mean?
Niggardly (noun: niggard) is an adjective meaning "stingy" or "miserly". It is derived from the Middle English word nigard, which is probably derived from Old Norse nigla, meaning "to be poor", which itself is most likely derived from hnøggr ("stingy"). The word niggle, which in modern usage means to give excessive attention to minor details, ...
Who was the teacher who said "niggardly"?
The teacher, Stephanie Bell, said she used "niggardly" during a discussion about literary characters. Parent Akwana Walker, who is black, protested the use of the word, saying it offended her.
When did the Dallas Morning News ban the word "restaurant"?
Dallas Morning News. At some point before the Washington, D.C., incident (of early 1999 ), The Dallas Morning News had banned the use of the word after its use in a restaurant review had raised complaints.
What was the significance of the Howard incident?
The Howard incident led to a national debate in the U.S., in the context of racial sensitivity and political correctness, on whether use of niggardly should be avoided. As James Poniewozik wrote in Salon, the controversy was "an issue that opinion-makers right, left and center could universally agree on." He wrote that "the defenders of the dictionary" were "legion, and still queued up six abreast". Julian Bond, then chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, deplored the offense that had been taken at Howard's use of the word. "You hate to think you have to censor your language to meet other people's lack of understanding", he said. Bond also said, "Seems to me the mayor has been niggardly in his judgment on the issue" and that as a nation the US has a "hair-trigger sensibility" on race that can be tripped by both real and false grievances.
