nembien.
/ˈnɛmbi/, U.S. /ˈnɛmbi/ slang (originally and chiefly U.S.).
A Nembutal capsule.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > sedatives, antispasmodics, etc. > [noun]
Luminal1912
phenobarbital1919
Nembutal1930
pentobarbital1931
phenobarbitone1932
pentobarbitone1938
allobarbital1944
pheno1949
nembie1950
phenobarb1951
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > sedative drug or tablet > Nembutal
Nembutal1930
nembie1950
1950 Time 28 Aug. 4/2 A goof ball is a nemmie (from Nembutal, trade name for a barbiturate), Geronimo, bomber, or any other barbiturate or sleeping pill.
1953 W. S. Burroughs Junkie iv. 42 Next day I was worse and could not get out of bed. So I stayed in bed taking nembies at intervals.
1969 R. R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z 182 Nembutal... Slang names: nebbies, nemmies, nemish, yellow jackets.
1975 K. Burke Let. 9 June in Sel. Corr. K. Burke & M. Cowley (1988) 396 Recently I have slept a remarkable number of nights in succession sans nembies.
1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 91 Dope, acid, speed, E, mushies, nembies, vallies, smack.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1950