Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Ner,) Nar hand, adv. (and quasi-prep.). compar. narrer hand. [Ner adv. Cf. Nere hand.In the case of the form nerhand there is no means of determining whether the short or the long vowel type of ner, nere is intended. Examples of this form have all been entered under Nere hand and only narhand is treated here.]

Near at hand (to), close by, adv. and prep., and comb. with by. = Nere-hand.(1) c1590 Fowler I. 169/9.
adv. Alyke far aff, nar hand, now heire, now there c1650 Spalding I. 236. Ib. 344, II. 305.
Thair wes no other boit nar handcompar. 15.. Crawford Mun. Invent. II. 198 (2 Dec.).
Because ye air narrerhand(2) 1620 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 133.
prep. And that he was nawayes nar hand him c1650 Spalding II. 74.
[They] rydis to ane place … callit Kynneill … nar hand Linlithquhow(3) a1578 Pitsc. I. 196/10.
comb. The crowne of Ingland quhilk was nar hand by at that time