nieve

¹ American  

[neev, neef] / niv, nif /

noun

1. Archaic Northern British and Scot. Dialect. a clenched or closed hand; fist.

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nieve ² American  

adjective

1. a frequent misspelling of naive.

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nieve British  

/ niːv /

noun

1. dialect the closed hand; fist

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Etymology

Origin of nieve

First recorded in 1275–1325; from Old Norse hnefi, of uncertain ultimate origin; cognate with Danish næve, Swedish näve

Example Sentences

“La nieve, la nieve!” he called out on a recent Saturday as potential customers strolled by his 16 vats of ice cream.

From Washington Post • Mar. 26, 2023

Descubren que se acerca una tormenta de nieve que podría cubrir la superficie de todo el planeta.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2020

All those who come hunting for piñatas tend to get swept up in the show — in the birria from Jalisco, pupusas from El Salvador, nieve from Oaxaca, guasanas from Michoacan.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2019

Though not showy, taken singly, they often cover the fields, presenting the appearance of a light snowfall, from which fact the Spanish-Californians have bestowed the pretty name "nievitas," the diminutive of nieve, snow.

From The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits by Parsons, Mary Elizabeth

What wight with nieve so stout and strong Dares lift it, jolly freres among, And cry, "Knaves, cease to bellow?"

From The Baron's Yule Feast: A Christmas Rhyme by Cooper, Thomas