nig (1)

t. [Etym. doubtful.] Mason.: To dre the face of a stone with a sharp pointed hammer, instead of hewing it with a chisel and mallet; also called nidge . *nig (2), v. i. [NIGGARD.] To be stingy or nig. gardly. 1. A miserly, stingy fellow; a miser; one who simonious fellow. 2. A false bottom for a grate; a nigger. ( May hew .) B. As adjective : 1. Miserly, stingy; meanly parsimonious; niggardly. 2. Given or supplied in a miserly or stingy manner; characterized by stingine . *nig'-gard, v. t. & i. [NIGGARD, 8.] A. Trans.: To stint, to begrudge; to supply stingily or sparingly. "Nature must obey nece ity; Which we will niggard with a little rest." "Thou Shakesp.: Julius Cæsar , iv. 3. B. In trans.: To be niggardly, stingy, or miserly. makest waste in niggarding ." Shakesp.: Sonnet 1. *nig'-gard-işe, *nig-ard-ise, s . [NIGGARD, 8.] Niggardline , stingine . "That will not use his gifts for thankle nigardise ." Spenser: F. Q., IV. viii. 15.