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Ned

//nɛd// name, noun, phrase, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A medieval diminutive of the male given name Edward.

    "But, sweet Ned, - to sweeten the name of Ned, I give thee this pennyworth of sugar"

  2. 2
    Initialism of New English Dictionary. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  3. 3
    Initialism of National Endowment for Democracy. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Noun
  1. 1
    A person, usually a youth, of low social standing and education, a violent disposition and with a particular style of dress (typically sportswear or Burberry), speech and behaviour. Scotland, derogatory, offensive, slang

    "The mindless behaviour of drunken neds and nuisance neighbours brings misery to tens of thousands of honest folk."

  2. 2
    Acronym of non-educated delinquent. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, derogatory
Phrase
  1. 1
    Initialism of no evidence of disease. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

Etymology

Etymology 1

Unknown. The suggested initialism from "non-educated delinquent" is a backronym and folk etymology. Several other suggestions include a contraction of ne'er-do-well, neanderthal, or some kind of relationship with Teddy Boy although its use much predates the 1950s origin of that phrase. Ostensibly unrelated to "Ned" as a diminutive of the personal name "Edward" but the Scottish use of 'ned' for hooligan or lout is cited by the Oxford English Dictionary as dating from the early 19th century. The OED also attributes a possible derivation from the 'Edward' diminutive.

Etymology 2

From rebracketing of the phrase mine Ed to my Ned.

See also for "ned"

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