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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.

Nether, Neather, Neither, Neyther, a.² (pron.) and adv. (conj.) Also: -eir, -ir and neder, -ir. [Partly a var. of Naither and partly by adoption of e.m.E. and ME. neither, neyther, nether, neethyr (1462), neyder (14th c.), neder, -yr (1537), ME. neþer, neiðer (c 1250). Cf. also Nowther and Nother.The apparently early instances of nethir, nether (1388 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 294, 1515 Treas. Acc. V. 53) and neither (1529 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 104) are perh. misreadings.]

Neither, in various uses of Nowther, Nother, Naither.(1) 1559 Knox VI. 57.
That neather of both have power [etc.] 1567 Sat. P. vii. 118.
The nobillis sould nether of thir enduire: That lowne to leif, nor hir to be his huire 1570 Leslie 75.
Nether c1616 Hume Orthog. 9.
Nether syde wantes sum reason 1631 Justiciary Cases I. 178.
Saying it was eyther a French or a Spanish factione. To which the Loird Reay said it was neyther(2) 1549 Sutherland Chart. 110.
[They] sal nethir heir nor se … utheris skaith 1561 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 290.
That he wes nether ane papist nor ane Calwynist nor [etc.] 1558-66 Knox II. 371.
That thei should nether complayne to Quene nor Counsall 1563 Ferg. Answer 37.
They nether preach nor exhort 1566 Peebles B. Rec. I. 302. 1570 Leslie 88.
Because ye [sc. Henry VIII] nether suld nor may tak peace a1578 Pitsc. I. 15/8. Ib. 85/27. 1583–4 Perth B. Ct. 23 Jan.
The said barne … nether haiffing lofting nor roiff a1605 Montg. Flyt. 270 (H).
Netheir 1609 Garden Garden 39.
I nether glade nor yet I grieue 1611 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 111. 1622-6 Bisset II. 258/3.
Nethir mair nor lese 1635 Aberd. Council Lett. II. 32.
We have no importatioun nether of copper, walx, irne nor cornes 1656 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 347.
And nether suffer hir to tope or sell any salt farder 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 557.(b) 1560 Bk. Disc. 196.
Suche readeris as neather have haid exercise nor continuance in Christis trew religioun Ib. 200. 1558-66 Knox II. 279.
That neather I nor that booke shall eather hurt you or your authoritie Ib. 385.
That we have nothing of our religioun establesshed neather by law or parliament(c) 1580 Elgin Rec. I. 156.
Nedir freman nor onfreman within this burgh in na tymes cuming sall [etc.] c 1595 Maxwell Mem. II. 179.
Scho has na powar, neder for balȝare nor na vder thing(d) 1572–3 Cal. Sc. P. IV. 453.
Only sum … come to Sanct Johneston … howbeit neyther of the noumer of the nobilitie nor ȝit sic as semit to have sufficient commission c1580-90 Rules of Health.
Neither harsk nor austeir gustit 1603 Philotus cxxiv.
I charge thé … Thow neyther girne, gowl, glowme nor gaip(3) 1560 Bk. Disc. 253.
That neathir in the rycht use of thame war thair any proffeit, neathir yit in thair prophanatioun war thair any danger 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 75.
Wythout the cayr [of] superintendentis neyther can the kyrk be suddenlie erected, neyther can thei be retened in disciplin 1561 Knox in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xlv. 1558-66 Knox I. 441.
Sche wald neather maik that toun patent, neather yitt send any man away c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 74, 75, 77.
Neathir thir schrinkars … neathir thir flattrers … Neathir tha pepill … Nor tha that dois … Refuse Gods wourd 1622-6 Bisset I. 153/8.
That the keipare … nethir hald the knok abak neither haist the houre fordward 1641 Acts (1817) V. 562/2.
Nether wee as patron neither the titular … wer ever cited 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 35.
Nether(4) 1567 Acts III. 42/2.
Sua that the people pretend na ignorance, neyther the saidis customaris be sufferit to extors the people as thai haue done 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 546.
The quene … quhais lauchfull husband he culd not be nether she his lauchfull wiff a1578 Pitsc. I. 123/12.
James Douglas … had lost manie of his men nor ȝeit had he great hope of ony support of Ingland nocht the les nether defiding of good fortoun he past to Donald Lord of the Illis c1590 Fowler II. 39/1.
This promeis of Christ is maid vnto the elect & chosin children. Nether ȝit so to them, but they … ar oft tymes suffred to fal Ib. 92/3.
The potentates of Italye, nether others that uer not called by this name, bot the least barron and lord … maid na accont of theme in things temporall Ib. 149/15. 1596 Dalr. II. 375/20. 1605 Glasgow Chart. I. dcxiii.
It sall not be lesum to ane sempill burges … to tap … laine nor camrage … nether to tap wyne … nether to by … ony wyld skynes [etc.] 1650 Brechin Presb. 21.
That he nether his wyff should wrang her Ib. 23.
Quhilk I never did befor neyther sinsyn c 1685 Annandale Corr. 315.
Hennie is prittie well, butt Sophia is nott, neather am I