nief

plural niefs · alternative neif

1. historicalA serf or bondsman born into servitude.

   That is, because the girl was his nief, or bondwoman, the daughter of one of his villains

   1886, "The Fight at the Pass of Coleshill", The Red Dragon "Notes and Queries", page 471

plural niefs · plural nieves · alternative neif · alternative nieve · alternative Scotland nef · alternative Scotland nefe · alternative Scotland neff · alternative Scotland neiff · alternative Scotland neaf

1. IrelandNorthern EnglandScotlandA clenched hand; fist.First known use 14th c.

   "But t' Maister can stop and hit rarely. Happen he'll mak' him joomp when he gets his nief upon him."

   2004, Jeff Silverman, The Greatest Boxing Stories Ever Told, page 160

   2 more examples

   Ake thought if ever he was walking alone on a dark-like night and Jimmy came on him, he with his bare nieves and Jimmy with a knife, he'd stand as much chance of getting home safe as a celluloid cat that had strayed into hell[…].

   1934, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Grey Granite, Polygon, published 2006, A Scots Quair, page 597

   Nestorius exploded at that and hit out. He roared and dismissed the class, hitting out with his old mottled gnarled niefs.

   1989, Anthony Burgess, The Devil's Mode

2. IrelandNorthern EnglandScotlandA handful or fistful.
3. IrelandNorthern EnglandScotlandThe handgrip of a sword or oar.