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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-, Neirest, superl. a., adv. (and quasi-prep.) Also: ner-, neirast, neiras, neirist, neirrest, neyrest, nier-, niarest, neer-, nearest. [e.m.E. neerest (1619), superl. of Nere a.¹ and Nere adv.² Cf. Nerrest.] Nearest, closest, in various applications.

A. adj. 1. Most closely related (kin), most immediate (heir). Also absol. 1408 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 70.
To the neirest and lauchfull ayris 1454–5 Soc. Ant. Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 7.
The said Mergarete was nerast & lachful ayre to sumtyme the said Henry hir fadyr 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 330. 1558-66 Knox II. 247.
The father or neyrest freind 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8757.
Ane douchter … Quhilk neirest air to hir father suld be 1585 Acts III. 396/1.
The nearest agnettis and kinsmen 1603 Inverness Rec. II. ii.
I am nierest and lauchfull air to my vmquhill father 16.. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 392.
The neerest male of the blood royall 1675 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 20 Oct.
As neirest freinds to ane orphant Jonnet Hallidayabsol. 1456 Hay I. 253/12.
He was nerest of the lignie male of the blude ryall 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 331.
At the sycht of … the saide Williameis ayris and uder the best vordyast and nerast of thair blud and kyn a1578 Pitsc. I. 166/13.
He sould be suddenlie slaine witht ane of the neirest of his kin c1610 Melville Mem. 318. 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 188 (28 Jan.).
Neirest

2. Closest at hand, least distant. 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 28.
That thai revele the samyn till thar nerest nychtbour 1546 Elgin Rec. I. 86.
Nerest ?1549 Monro W. Isles 7 (Balfour).
Vpone the neirest coste of Mulle lyes ane ile callit the Calffe 1632 Strathendrick 25.
As most ewest and neirist kirk lands within the said paroch 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i. 134.
Neirest 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. Pref. ii.
Instructions receaved from the bards and nearest nighbours and allyes

3. Shortest or most direct (route). b. fig. Most direct, simplest (way or method). c. At the nearest (hand), at the nearest point, by the shortest route, most directly. c1420 Wynt. iii. 64.
But mare byddyng than tuk thai Tyll Jordane on the nerest way Ib. iv. 267. 1641 Acts V. 370/1.
To go home be the neirest way … quhen they croce Tweidb. 15.. Dum Wyf 71.
That is the neirest way To putt hir by hir witt 1570 Leslie 52. 1644 Rutherford Lex Rex (1644) 82.
In respect of liberty election is more convenient; in respect of safety & peace, birth is safer & the nearest way to the wellc. (1) 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 529.
Passing ower the dyke at the nearest 1666 Jurid. Rev. xxiv. 15.
In respect I cam to them at the neirest when they were going by(2) 1653 Binning Wks. 639.
But how shall ye come to it? Not at the nearest hand, not per saltum

4. Most direct or immediate (cause of something). 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 507.
Which is the immediate and neerest cause of all our present troubles & distractions

B. adv. 1. a. Most closely (concerned). b. Closest in kinship. a1578 Pitsc. I. 285/4.
Thocht he be neirest of bloode to haue the gowerment of this realme 1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 174.
Thes that are neirest concernit 1671 Rothesay B. Rec. 200.
Ane inqweist … for cognossing who is nearest borne of and of kin of the father syde to Neill, Jonet and Sarah Jamesones

2. Nearest or closest to something, in material and immaterial applications. 1456 Hay I. 284/12.
Be [black] … is signyfyit dolour for it … cummys nerest to myrknes a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii. 263.
We tuke the ludging nerest to the shore 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 80.
That double dask in the old kirk neirest to the pulpit

3. With omission of to, quasi-prep.: Nearest, closest, next (to).(a) c1420 Wynt. ii. 1604.
And quhylle lay nere for tyll have sene Quhat land that thai had nerest bene 1456 Hay II. 50/18.
For rycht as the jakkis ar abone the hauberkis and ordanyt nerest bathe wynd and rayn 1493 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 214.
As the mastir stryp rane of the ald tyme nerast the Muyrhailhows(b) 1547–8 Corr. M. Lorraine 220.
And closis up Sanct Marye port quhilk is neirast Scotland a1578 Pitsc. I. 32/17.
That he is neirrest perrell … that seittis … hichest ?1549 Monro W. Isles 18.
Neiras this iyle [Duray] be twa myle lyes ane iyle called Scarbay a1628 Carmichael Prov. Nos. 1194, 1195. 1660 S. Ronaldshay 30.
Quhilk schoe directed her to eate neirest her stomach fasting 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 10.
Never to suffer any linnen … to come neirest their skine(c) ?1549 Monro W. Isles 19.
Niarest the iyle of Skarbay 1654 Lamont Diary 78.
The palace … niarest the garden yearde was brunt