noggin

noun

nog·​gin ˈnä-gən How to pronounce noggin (audio)
plural noggins
1
: a person's head
2
: a small mug or cup
3
: a small quantity (such as a gill) of drink

Examples of noggin in a Sentence

He fell and got a bump on his noggin. watch the lintel above the door, unless you want to bang your noggin
Recent Examples on the Web If it’s defined by having the biggest brain, then sperm whales—whose noggins are a hefty 20 pounds—would be the brightest creatures on Earth. Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Popular Science, 14 Sep. 2023 The big noggin sent out reverberations through ancient hominin archaeology, and certain scientific teams called for a new early human species. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 11 Aug. 2023 Although the details of the artist’s new music video are still as tightly under wraps as his noggin, photos of Al Pacino on set wearing a similar light gray suit and white button-down soon began to circulate. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2023 As with any experimental animal, from a mouse to a monkey, the answers may hold clues about the contents of more complex creatures’ noggin, including what resides in the neural circuitry of our own head. Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2023 Mips realized that most crashes rarely happen in a straight line; in the unfortunate event that your head strikes terra firma, your noggin is much more likely to strike at an angle—similar to how a tennis ball strikes the ground. Matt Crisara, Popular Mechanics, 1 Aug. 2023 Made in Japan, this classic fisherman beanie’s wool-blend fabric will ensure your noggin’ stays warm. Maverick Li, Men's Health, 5 Jan. 2023 And that electrical output proved highly predictive of rotational forces deep in the head, as measured by accelerometers implanted inside the dummies’ noggins. IEEE Spectrum, 1 July 2022 Face computers can overheat or make your noggin feel sweaty and gross. Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 6 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'noggin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of noggin was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near noggin

Cite this Entry

“Noggin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noggin. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

noggin

noun
nog·​gin ˈnäg-ən How to pronounce noggin (audio)
1
: a small mug
2
: a small quantity (as a gill) of drink
3
: a person's head

More from Merriam-Webster on noggin

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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