Looking at this link shows me that compiled queries can be used to improve performance in Linq to SQL apps (I've seen other examples in Entity framework):
This requires a parameter that inherits DataContext - which I don't think NHIbernate has, but is the point of this question.
I have looked at these links:
https://nhibernate.jira.com/browse/NH-2389
Compile NHibernate Linq expressions
but I don't see an up-to-date and definitive answer.
If anyone has the answers, I would love to hear them :)