nit Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a luminance unit equal to 1 candle per square meter measured perpendicular to the rays from the source
  2. noun egg or young of an insect parasitic on mammals especially a sucking louse; often attached to a hair or item of clothing

WordNet

Nit noun
Etymology
AS. hnitu; akin to D. neet, G. niss, OHG. niz; cf. gr. , , Icel. gnit, Sw. gnet, Dan. gnid, Russ. & Pol. gnida, Bohem. hnida, W. nedd.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) The egg of a louse or other small insect.

Webster 1913