nonce
adjective
- coined for one occasion
noun
- arbitrary number used only once in a cryptographic communication
- lexeme created for a single occasion
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /nɒns/ / /nɑns/ / /nɔns/
adj
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English nonse, nones, a rebracketing of Middle English to þen anes, for þen anes (to/for the once (i.e., the one occasion or instance)), from the dative singular neuter of þe. The cryptography sense is commonly said to be a contraction of number used once, although this is probably incorrect.
- One-off; produced or created for a single occasion or use. Denoting something occurring once.
“But particular men are not stereotyped for jobs nor particular desks (as against others) to sit at - the standard here is nonce.”
“Dickinson's association of heliotrope with Mary Bowles was nonce and fleeting, but the subject of gardens was always a safe one on which to address her: “How is your garden – Mary? Are the Pinks true –?””
noun
Etymology: 1975. Unknown, derived from British criminal slang. Several origins have been proposed; possibly derived from dialectal nonce, nonse (“stupid, worthless individual”) (but this cannot be shown to predate nonce "child-molester" and is likely a toned-down usage of the same insult), or Nance, nance (“effeminate man, homosexual”), from nancy or nancyboy. The rhyme with ponce has also been noted. As prison slang also said to be an acronym for "Not On Normal Communal Exercise" (Stevens 2012), but this is likely a backronym.
- A sex offender, especially one who is guilty of sexual offences against children.
“1989 "assorted nonces, ponces and murderers, 'the worst men in the world' … on the nonce wing, where the child-killers, molesters and various perverts have to be protected from the other prisoners." (New Statesman, New Society, Volume 2, Statesman & Nation Publishing Company Limited)”
- A pedophile.
“‘He's a nonce[. A] nonsense merchant, a paedophile[,’ Terry explained.]”
- A police informer, one who betrays a criminal enterprise
- A stupid or worthless person.
“Shut it, ya nonce!”