nit
1[ nit ]
/ nɪt /
noun
the egg of a parasitic insect, especially of a louse, often attached to a hair or a fiber of clothing.
the young of such an insect.
Nearby words
nissan, nissen hut, nissl substance, nistru, nisus, nit, nit-lamp, nit-pick, nit-picking, nit-picky, nitchie
Origin of nit
1before 900; Middle English nite, Old English hnitu, cognate with Dutch neet, German Niss, Norwegian nit
Definition for nit (2 of 3)
nit
2[ nit ]
/ nɪt /
noun Physics.
a unit of luminous intensity equal to one candela per square meter. Abbreviation: nt
Definition for nit (3 of 3)
nit
3[ nit ]
/ nɪt /
noun Chiefly British.
a nitwit.
Origin of nit
3by shortening
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for nit
British Dictionary definitions for nit (1 of 5)
nit
1/ (nɪt) /
noun
the egg of a louse, especially when adhering to human hair
the larva of a louse or similar insect
Word Origin for nit
Old English hnitu; related to Dutch neet, Old High German hniz
British Dictionary definitions for nit (2 of 5)
nit
2/ (nɪt) /
noun
a unit of luminance equal to 1 candela per square metre
Word Origin for nit
C20: from Latin nitor brightness
British Dictionary definitions for nit (3 of 5)
British Dictionary definitions for nit (4 of 5)
nit
4/ (nɪt) /
noun
a unit of information equal to 1.44 bitsAlso called: nepit
Word Origin for nit
C20: from N (apierian dig) it
British Dictionary definitions for nit (5 of 5)
nit
5/ (nɪt) /
noun
keep nit Australian informal to keep watch, esp during illegal activity
Word Origin for nit
C19: from nix 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for nit
nit
Old English hnitu "louse egg, nit," from Proto-Germanic *khnito (cf. Norwegian nit, Middle Dutch nete, Dutch neet, Middle High German niz, German Niß), from PIE root *knid- "egg of a louse" (cf. Russian, Polish gnida, Czech knida; Greek konidos, genitive konis "egg of a louse").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for nit
nit
[ nĭt ]
n.
The egg or young of a parasitic insect, such as a louse.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.