Brewer's: Nancy

The sailor's choice in Dibdin's exquisite song beginning, “'Twas post meridian half-past four.” At half-past four he parted by signal from his Nancy; at eight he bade her a long adieu; next morn a storm arose, and four sailors were washed overboard, “but love forbade the waves to snatch our tar from Nancy”; when the storm ceased an enemy appeared, but when the battle was hottest our gallant friend “put up a prayer and thought on Nancy.”

Miss Nancy.
Mrs. Anna Oldfield, a celebrated actress, buried in Westminster Abbey. She died in 1730, and her remains lay in state, attended by two noblemen. She was buried in a very fine Brussels lace head-dress, a holland shift, with a tucker and double-ruffles of the same lace, new kid gloves, etc. 
Odious! In woollen? `Twould a saint provoke!' Were the last words that poor Narcissa spoke.

Pope: Moral Essays.

Miss Nancy. An effeminate young man.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
Nancy of the Vale
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