Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Ned(e)-, Neidlingis, adv. Also: neyd-, nyed-, needand -linges, -lings, -lyngis, -lyns. [ME. nedlinges (Cursor M.), nedelinges, nedylynges (c 1450), thereafter appar. only Sc.: cf. Ned(e)ling(eadv.] a. Necessarily, unavoidably, inescapably; compulsorily. Also b. insistently, pertinaciously, in despite of everything. = Nedis adv.a. 1375 Barb. ix. 725.
Bot thai that war arestit then War of thair taking voundir wa; Bot nedlyngis thame behufit be swa a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 854.
Sic wil of slepe hyme can ta That in the mydis of the way Nedlyngis to slepe he don lay Ib. l. 109.
For nedlingis faile mon althing ?1438 Alex. ii. 6805.
Sa worthis neidlingis that thay fecht Quhill ane of thame discumfit be Ib. 5798, 6552. a1500 Henr. Fab. 787 (H). a1500 Rauf C. 405. a1500 Lanc. 2336. 1513 Doug. x. viii. 76.
Quhen all most neydlyngis pay that det Ib. xii. xii. 137.
The mekill hart … Quhilk thar inclusit neidlingis mon abyd Ib. iv. Prol. 5, xi. Prol. 67. 1514–15 Douglas Corr. 70.
And ȝit nyedlyngis he mane wryte aganst hym tyll [have] all hys promotione reversytb. a1400 Leg. S. xxii. 775.
That quhilis his predecessoure … Nedlyns wald wyt quhare the body Of this religiouse martyre cane ly