ninnyhammers

Updated: June 13, 2025

I have observed him whilst drinking with our governor, when the old man’s head was turned, look at him with an air which seemed to say, “What a thundering old fool you are”; and at our young ladies, when their backs were turned, with a glance which said distinctly enough, “You precious pair of ninnyhammers”; and then his laugh—he had two kinds of laughs—one which you could hear, and another which you could only see.

George Henry Borrow - Lavengro: The Scholar, The Gypsy, The Priest

I have observed him whilst drinking with our governor, when the old man's head was turned, look at him with an air which seemed to say, "What a thundering old fool you are"; and at our young ladies, when their backs were turned, with a glance which said distinctly enough, "You precious pair of ninnyhammers"; and then his laugh he had two kinds of laughs one which you could hear, and another which you could only see.

George Henry Borrow - Lavengro; the Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest

I have observed him whilst drinking with our governor, when the old man's head was turned, look at him with an air which seemed to say, 'What a thundering old fool you are! and at our young ladies, when their backs were turned, with a glance which said distinctly enough, 'You precious pair of ninnyhammers'; and then his laugh he had two kinds of laughs one which you could hear, and another which you could only see.

George Henry Borrow - Lavengro: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest

"Stop, you crazy fellows! you ninnyhammers! you overgrown babies!" he exclaimed, seizing his companions by the collar, and violently swinging them around with his vast strength until they stood back to back; "what are you going to fight about? Suppose there are Lunarians in the Moon! Is that a reason why there should be Lunatics in the Projectile! But, Ardan, why do you insist on Lunarians?

Jules Verne - All Around the Moon