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nef

American  
[nef] / nɛf /

noun

  1. a silver or gold table furnishing in the form of a ship, either for holding various utensils or for ornament.


Etymology

Origin of nef

1680–90; < French: ship < Latin nāvis. See nave

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even at royal feasts, the only ornament on the table was a nef, a vessel made to hold salt.

From Slate • May 5, 2015

At the very least, the nef gene offers an attractive target for drug developers.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ronald Desrosiers at the New England Regional Primate Research Center has demonstrated that when the nef gene is removed from SIV, the virus no longer has the power to make monkeys sick.

From Time Magazine Archive

A live vaccine made from HIV, he maintains, can be made safer by removing not just the nef gene but several others as well.

From Time Magazine Archive

P. xliv. mesgnie, properly the suite or household of a prince; see Roquefort s.v. magnie and maignee. nef, a boat. loue, advise.

From Lancelot of the Laik A Scottish Metrical Romance by Skeat, Walter W. (Walter William)