niare

[See def.] The native name of the wild ox or buffalo of Western Africa. *ni-as, *ni-aise, a . & s. [Fr. niaise.] A. As adj .: Simple, silly, foolish. B. As substantive: 1. A simpleton, a ninny. "Thou art a niaise." Ben Jonson: The Devil's an A , i. 6. 2. A young hawk; an eyas (q. v.). "A nias hawk is one taken newly from the nest, and not able to help itself; and hence nisey, a silly person." Bailey.