n. 1 the digit 0; a cipher. 2 poet. or archaic (in certain phrases) nothing (cf. NAUGHT). noughts and crosses a paper-and-pencil game with a square grid of nine squares, in which players seek to complete a row of three noughts or three crosses entered alternately.
[ OE nowiht f. ne not + owiht var. of awiht AUGHT(1) ]