nadder

See also: Nadder

Middle English

Alternative forms

• naddere, naddre, nadre, nedder, neddere, neddre, neder, nedere, nedre
• (early) næddræ, næddre, neddræ
• adder, addere, addre, ader, edder, eddere, eddre, hedder

Etymology

From Old English nǣdre.

Noun

nadder (plural nadders)

1. adder, or snake
   • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Marchantes Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 144, verso, lines 25–26:

     O · seruant traẏtour / falſe homlẏ hewe / Lẏk to the neddre in boſom / Sly vntrewe

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Descendants

• English: adder, edder (by rebracketing)
• Scots: edder

References

• “nā̆ddre, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
• “nadder”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.