n. [ AS. nest; akin to D. & G. nest, Sw. näste, L. nidus, for nisdus, Skr. nī&dsdot_;a resting place, nest; cf. Lith. lizdas, Arm. neiz, Gael. & Ir. nead. Prob. from the particle ni down, Skr. ni + the root of E. sit, and thus orig., a place to sit down in. √ 264. See Nether, and Sit, and cf. Eyas, Nidification, Nye. ]
The birds of the air have nests. Matt. viii. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]
A little cottage, like some poor man's nest. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To put into a nest; to form a nest for. [ 1913 Webster ]
From him who nested himself into the chief power. South. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i. To build and occupy a nest. [ 1913 Webster ]
The king of birds nested within his leaves. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
n.;
v. i.
The kingfisher . . . nestles in hollow banks. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]
Their purpose was to fortify in some strong place of the wild country, and there nestle till succors came. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads. Clement Clarke Moore (A Visit From St. Nicholas, (a poem [ 1823 ]) also called The Night Before Christmas). [ PJC ]
v. t. To house, as in a nest. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Newly hatched; being yet in the nest. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
prop. n. (Zool.) A genus of parrots with gray heads, of New Zealand and Papua, allied to the cockatoos. See Kaka. [ 1913 Webster ]