Not that English is a sensible language, but I think "near miss" makes sense if one looks at where 'near' as acting as an adverb vs an adjective 1. near (adj)

Not that English is a sensible language, but I think "near miss" makes sense if one looks at where 'near' as acting as an adverb vs an adjective 1. near (adj) miss (n) - it was a miss, but a near one (i.e. a close miss) 2. nearly (adv) hit (v) - they almost collided, but didn't 3. nearly (adv) missed (v) - they collided, but it was almost avoidable (the Carlin joke "oh, they nearly missed ...) 4. was nearly (adv to was) a hit, that nearly (adv) hit (v) us, ... 5. near (adj) hit (n) - doesn't really make sense, should be 2 or 4.