nill

Meanings

Verb

• To be unwilling; will not (+ infinitive).
• To be unwilling.
• To reject, refuse, negate.

Noun

• Shining sparks thrown off from melted brass.
• Scales of hot iron from the forge.

Origin

• From Middle English nillen, from Old English nillan, nellan, nyllan, corresponding to ne + will. Cognate with Old Frisian nelle. Unrelated to Latin nolo which is constructed the same way, but the morphemes that compound both verbs are cognates.
• Compare Irish and Gaelic neul star, light. Compare nebula.