资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Nest \Nest\, n. [AS. nest; akin to D. & G. nest, Sw. n["a]ste,
L. nidus, for nisdus, Skr. n[=i]?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. [root] 264. See {Nether}, and
{Sit}, and cf. {Eyas}, {Nidification}, {Nye}.]
1. The bed or receptacle prepared by a fowl for holding her
eggs and for hatching and rearing her young.
The birds of the air have nests. --Matt. viii.
20.
2. Hence: the place in which the eggs of other animals, as
insects, turtles, etc., are laid and hatched; a snug place
in which young animals are reared. --Bentley.
3. A snug, comfortable, or cozy residence or situation; a
retreat, or place of habitual resort; hence, those who
occupy a nest, frequent a haunt, or are associated in the
same pursuit; as, a nest of traitors; a nest of bugs.
A little cottage, like some poor man's nest.
--Spenser.
4. (Geol.) An aggregated mass of any ore or mineral, in an
isolated state, within a rock.
5. A collection of boxes, cases, or the like, of graduated
size, each put within the one next larger.
6. (Mech.) A compact group of pulleys, gears, springs, etc.,
working together or collectively.
{Nest egg}, an egg left in the nest to prevent the hen from
forsaking it, and to induce her to lay more in the same
place; hence, figuratively, something laid up as the
beginning of a fund or collection. --Hudibras.
资料来源 : WordNet®
nest egg
n 1: a fund of money put by as a reserve [syn: {savings}]
2: device consisting of an artificial egg left in a nest to
induce hens to lay their eggs in it