NARROW, a. I suspect this word and near to be contracted by the loss of g, nig, narrow, strait; nigiaw, to narrow; for the D. has naauw, narrow, close, G. with a prefix. In this case, the word belongs to the root of nigh; to approach.

1. Of little breadth; not wide or broad; having little distance from side to side; as a narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow sea; a narrow hem or border. It is only or chiefly applied to the surface of flat or level bodies.

2. Of little extent; very limited; as a narrow space or compass.

3. Covetous; not liberal or bountiful; as a narrow heart.

4. Contracted; of confined views or sentiments; very limited.

The greatest understanding is narrow.

In this sense and the former, it is often prefixed to mind or soul, & c. ; as narrow-minded; narrow-souled; narrow-hearted.

5. Near; within a small distance.

6. Close; near; accurate; scrutinizing; as a narrow search; narrow inspection.

7. Near; barely sufficient to avoid evil; as a narrow escape.

NARROW, n. A strait; a narrow passage through a mountain, or a narrow channel of water between one sea or lake and another; a sound. It is usually in the plural, but sometimes in the singular.