An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Niß

by Friedrich Kluge

Niß, feminine, ‘nit,’ from the equivalent Middle High German niȥ (ȥȥ), feminine, for hniȥ; corresponding to Dutch neet, Anglo-Saxon hnitu, feminine, and the equivalent English nit; Gothic *hnits is not recorded. According to the permutation of consonants Greek κονίς, plural κονίδες, ‘eggs of lice, bugs, fleas,’ &c., may be akin, if the words in both languages be based on knid. It has also been connected with Slavonic gnida. Nuß is not allied.