"nan" meaning in English

See nan in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /næn/ Audio: en-us-nan.ogg Forms: nans [plural]
Rhymes: -æn Etymology: From Nan, pet form of the formerly very common female given names Anne and Agnes. As a nursemaid and grandmother, a clipping of earlier nana, from nanny under the probable influence of mama, also from Nan. Compare Mary. Head templates: {{en-noun}} nan (plural nans)
  1. (obsolete) Synonym of maid: a servant girl. Tags: obsolete Categories (topical): LGBTQ, Occupations Synonyms: maid [synonym, synonym-of]
    Sense id: en-nan-en-noun-TqPLgPfB Disambiguation of LGBTQ: 22 15 13 26 23 Disambiguation of Occupations: 40 5 7 32 16
  2. (slang, obsolete) Synonym of nancy: an effeminate male homosexual. Tags: obsolete, slang Categories (topical): LGBTQ Synonyms: nancy [synonym, synonym-of]
    Sense id: en-nan-en-noun-DfNf-pOX Disambiguation of LGBTQ: 22 15 13 26 23
  3. (UK, endearing) Synonym of nursemaid. Tags: UK, endearing Categories (topical): LGBTQ Synonyms: nursemaid [synonym, synonym-of]
    Sense id: en-nan-en-noun-iJUkfhkE Disambiguation of LGBTQ: 22 15 13 26 23 Categories (other): British English
  4. (British, Ireland, Australia, Canada, endearing) Synonym of grandmother. Tags: Australia, British, Canada, Ireland, endearing Categories (topical): Female family members, LGBTQ, Occupations Synonyms: grandmother [synonym, synonym-of]
    Sense id: en-nan-en-noun-KmHhA8IW Disambiguation of Female family members: 18 14 9 45 14 Disambiguation of LGBTQ: 22 15 13 26 23 Disambiguation of Occupations: 40 5 7 32 16 Categories (other): Australian English, British English, Canadian English, Irish English, English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 10 9 20 45 15
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: nan flap
Etymology number: 1

Noun

IPA: /næn/ [Received-Pronunciation], /nɑːn/ [Received-Pronunciation], /næn/ [General-American], /nɑn/ [General-American] Forms: nans [plural]
Etymology: See at naan. Head templates: {{en-noun}} nan (plural nans)
  1. Alternative spelling of naan Tags: alt-of, alternative Alternative form of: naan Categories (topical): LGBTQ, Occupations
    Sense id: en-nan-en-noun-GDAJL7Zh Disambiguation of LGBTQ: 22 15 13 26 23 Disambiguation of Occupations: 40 5 7 32 16
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Inflected forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "nan flap"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_text": "From Nan, pet form of the formerly very common female given names Anne and Agnes. As a nursemaid and grandmother, a clipping of earlier nana, from nanny under the probable influence of mama, also from Nan. Compare Mary.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "nans",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "nan (plural nans)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "22 15 13 26 23",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "LGBTQ",
          "orig": "en:LGBTQ",
          "parents": [
            "Sexuality",
            "Human behaviour",
            "Sex",
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Reproduction",
            "Fundamental",
            "Life",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "40 5 7 32 16",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Occupations",
          "orig": "en:Occupations",
          "parents": [
            "People",
            "Work",
            "Human",
            "Human activity",
            "All topics",
            "Human behaviour",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Synonym of maid: a servant girl."
      ],
      "id": "en-nan-en-noun-TqPLgPfB",
      "links": [
        [
          "maid",
          "maid#English"
        ],
        [
          "servant",
          "servant"
        ],
        [
          "girl",
          "girl"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete) Synonym of maid: a servant girl."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "extra": "a servant girl",
          "tags": [
            "synonym",
            "synonym-of"
          ],
          "word": "maid"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "22 15 13 26 23",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "LGBTQ",
          "orig": "en:LGBTQ",
          "parents": [
            "Sexuality",
            "Human behaviour",
            "Sex",
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Reproduction",
            "Fundamental",
            "Life",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Synonym of nancy: an effeminate male homosexual."
      ],
      "id": "en-nan-en-noun-DfNf-pOX",
      "links": [
        [
          "nancy",
          "nancy#English"
        ],
        [
          "effeminate",
          "effeminate"
        ],
        [
          "male",
          "male"
        ],
        [
          "homosexual",
          "homosexual"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(slang, obsolete) Synonym of nancy: an effeminate male homosexual."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "extra": "an effeminate male homosexual",
          "tags": [
            "synonym",
            "synonym-of"
          ],
          "word": "nancy"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete",
        "slang"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "British English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "22 15 13 26 23",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "LGBTQ",
          "orig": "en:LGBTQ",
          "parents": [
            "Sexuality",
            "Human behaviour",
            "Sex",
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Reproduction",
            "Fundamental",
            "Life",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Synonym of nursemaid."
      ],
      "id": "en-nan-en-noun-iJUkfhkE",
      "links": [
        [
          "endearing",
          "endearing"
        ],
        [
          "nursemaid",
          "nursemaid#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(UK, endearing) Synonym of nursemaid."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "synonym",
            "synonym-of"
          ],
          "word": "nursemaid"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "UK",
        "endearing"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Australian English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "British English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Canadian English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Irish English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "10 9 20 45 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "18 14 9 45 14",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Female family members",
          "orig": "en:Female family members",
          "parents": [
            "Family members",
            "Female people",
            "Family",
            "Female",
            "People",
            "Gender",
            "Human",
            "Biology",
            "Psychology",
            "Sociology",
            "All topics",
            "Sciences",
            "Social sciences",
            "Fundamental",
            "Society"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "22 15 13 26 23",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "LGBTQ",
          "orig": "en:LGBTQ",
          "parents": [
            "Sexuality",
            "Human behaviour",
            "Sex",
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Reproduction",
            "Fundamental",
            "Life",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "40 5 7 32 16",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Occupations",
          "orig": "en:Occupations",
          "parents": [
            "People",
            "Work",
            "Human",
            "Human activity",
            "All topics",
            "Human behaviour",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "We had my nan over for Christmas dinner.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Synonym of grandmother."
      ],
      "id": "en-nan-en-noun-KmHhA8IW",
      "links": [
        [
          "endearing",
          "endearing"
        ],
        [
          "grandmother",
          "grandmother#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(British, Ireland, Australia, Canada, endearing) Synonym of grandmother."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "synonym",
            "synonym-of"
          ],
          "word": "grandmother"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Australia",
        "British",
        "Canada",
        "Ireland",
        "endearing"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/næn/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-nan.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/5/5b/En-us-nan.ogg/En-us-nan.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/En-us-nan.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-æn"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "NaN"
    }
  ],
  "word": "nan"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "etymology_text": "See at naan.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "nans",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "nan (plural nans)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "naan"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "22 15 13 26 23",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "LGBTQ",
          "orig": "en:LGBTQ",
          "parents": [
            "Sexuality",
            "Human behaviour",
            "Sex",
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Reproduction",
            "Fundamental",
            "Life",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "40 5 7 32 16",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Occupations",
          "orig": "en:Occupations",
          "parents": [
            "People",
            "Work",
            "Human",
            "Human activity",
            "All topics",
            "Human behaviour",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2002, Desmond Barry, A Bloody Good Friday, page 157:",
          "text": "Gerry ordered poppadoms and parathas and then he was interrupted by requests for vindaloos, chicken madrases and sag joshes, rice, raita and nan, from Priest, Morgan and Maria Grazia.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative spelling of naan"
      ],
      "id": "en-nan-en-noun-GDAJL7Zh",
      "links": [
        [
          "naan",
          "naan#English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/næn/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/nɑːn/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/næn/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/nɑn/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "nan"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English clippings",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English eponyms",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English palindromes",
    "English terms with homophones",
    "Pages with 28 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/æn",
    "Rhymes:English/æn/1 syllable",
    "en:Female family members",
    "en:LGBTQ",
    "en:Occupations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "nan flap"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_text": "From Nan, pet form of the formerly very common female given names Anne and Agnes. As a nursemaid and grandmother, a clipping of earlier nana, from nanny under the probable influence of mama, also from Nan. Compare Mary.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "nans",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "nan (plural nans)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with obsolete senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Synonym of maid: a servant girl."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "maid",
          "maid#English"
        ],
        [
          "servant",
          "servant"
        ],
        [
          "girl",
          "girl"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete) Synonym of maid: a servant girl."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "extra": "a servant girl",
          "tags": [
            "synonym",
            "synonym-of"
          ],
          "word": "maid"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English slang",
        "English terms with obsolete senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Synonym of nancy: an effeminate male homosexual."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "nancy",
          "nancy#English"
        ],
        [
          "effeminate",
          "effeminate"
        ],
        [
          "male",
          "male"
        ],
        [
          "homosexual",
          "homosexual"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(slang, obsolete) Synonym of nancy: an effeminate male homosexual."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "extra": "an effeminate male homosexual",
          "tags": [
            "synonym",
            "synonym-of"
          ],
          "word": "nancy"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete",
        "slang"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "British English",
        "English endearing terms"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Synonym of nursemaid."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "endearing",
          "endearing"
        ],
        [
          "nursemaid",
          "nursemaid#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(UK, endearing) Synonym of nursemaid."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "synonym",
            "synonym-of"
          ],
          "word": "nursemaid"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "UK",
        "endearing"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Australian English",
        "British English",
        "Canadian English",
        "English endearing terms",
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "Irish English"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "We had my nan over for Christmas dinner.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Synonym of grandmother."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "endearing",
          "endearing"
        ],
        [
          "grandmother",
          "grandmother#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(British, Ireland, Australia, Canada, endearing) Synonym of grandmother."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "synonym",
            "synonym-of"
          ],
          "word": "grandmother"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Australia",
        "British",
        "Canada",
        "Ireland",
        "endearing"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/næn/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-nan.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/5/5b/En-us-nan.ogg/En-us-nan.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/En-us-nan.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-æn"
    },
    {
      "homophone": "NaN"
    }
  ],
  "word": "nan"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English clippings",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English eponyms",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English palindromes",
    "Pages with 28 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "en:Female family members",
    "en:LGBTQ",
    "en:Occupations"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "etymology_text": "See at naan.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "nans",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "nan (plural nans)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "naan"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2002, Desmond Barry, A Bloody Good Friday, page 157:",
          "text": "Gerry ordered poppadoms and parathas and then he was interrupted by requests for vindaloos, chicken madrases and sag joshes, rice, raita and nan, from Priest, Morgan and Maria Grazia.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative spelling of naan"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "naan",
          "naan#English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/næn/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/nɑːn/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/næn/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/nɑn/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "nan"
}

Download raw JSONL data for nan meaning in English (4.2kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-21 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-12-04 using wiktextract (d8cb2f3 and 4e554ae). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.