neigh1 (na)

i. [Early mod. E. also ney, neie, dial. also nie, nye, nee; 3961 Sw. gnägga = Dan. gnægge, neigh: supposed to be imitative; it may be so, remotely, like the equiv. hinny2, whinny.] 1. To utter the cry of a horse; whinny. When they [the Indians] heard the Horses ney, they had thought the horses could speake. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 784. There the Laird garr'd leave our steeds, For fear that they should stamp and nie . Kinmont Willie (Child's Ballads, VI. 63). Meanwhile the restle horses neighed aloud, Breathing out fire, and pawing where they stood. Add is on, tr. of Ovid's Meta morph., ii. 2t. To scoff; sneer. Yes, yes, 'tis he, I will a ure you, uncle; The very he; the he your wisdom play'd withal (I thank you for 't); neigh'd at his nakedne , And made his cold and poverty your pastime. Fletcher, Wit without Money, iv. 1. neigh1 (nā), n. [ Steed threatens steed, in high and boastful neighs Piercing the night's dull ear. Shak ., Hen. V., iv., Prol., 1. 10. The clash of steel, the neighs of barbed steeds. Ford, Lady's Trial, ii. 1.