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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.

North-sid(e, -syd(e, n. Also: northe-, northt- and -syid. [ME. norð side (Layamon), ME. and e.m.E. northside.]

1. The northern side (of a building, room, hill, street, etc.). c1420 Wynt. vii. 3366.
That south part And the northsyd swa westwart … all gert he ma 1499 Echt-Forbes Chart. 86.
The ald land at gais up and done the northt sid of the hil 1594 Misc. Spald. C. II. 124.
Ye … brak the northsyd of his chalmer in the thak 1623 Crim. Trials III. 557.
Be causeing … ane hoill to be maid in the north syde of the hous 1625 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 289.
Doun the north syid of the hie streit

2. The northern part (of an area).See also North a. 4 c. 1487 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. i.
The balyeis … resauit resignacione … of the northt sid of a land liand at the nethir yet 1539 Reg. Cupar A. II. 3.
The hale north syde of the said myre wes assignat to Cowpergrange 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 246.]
[Complaint by Laurence Fergussoun, indwellerin Leith, on the north side thereof, within the regality of Halierudhous … against the town of Edinburgh

3. The region to the north of a place. 1540 Edinb. Chart. 212.
Inhabitaris of the north syde of the brig 1626 Coll. Rebus Alban. 123.
The west ilandis … ar devydit in these of the south and of the northe syde of Kintyre

4. On (upon), also at and in, the north syde (of). a., b. On the northern side or northern part (of). (Senses 1 and 2).a. 1534 Bamff Chart. 65.
Upon the north syde of the cros ane picture of ane scheir [etc.] 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 192.
Twa pictouris being sett on the north syd of the chalmer 1623 Ib. III. 556.
Ane hoill in the wall vpone the north syde of the chymnayb. (1) 1466 Ayr B. Ct. 6 Oct.
The ta half of hir tenement on the northt side with a hous apon the tayle on the southt side 1540 Edinb. Chart. 212.
His boit is ladynit with barrellis on the north syde in the hevin of Leith(2) 1540 Edinb. Chart. 210.
Induellaris in Leith vpoun the north syde thairof 1549–50 Elgin Rec. I. 101.
Ane ruid of land lyand on the northt syid of the brucht

c. At the north side (of); adjacent (to), on the north. d. To the north (of).(1) 1387 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. ii.
As the voute … standand on the north syde of the parys auter of the abbay 1440 Acts II. 32/2. 1469 Peebles B. Rec. I. 161.
Our ald myldamsted … lyand at the northt sid of Dawlethow c1515 Asl. MS. I. 170/1.
On the north syd this wgly watter ar men with swyne heidis 1565 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 649/1.
Furth of certane lyme pottis liand on the north syd of … Edinburgh 1587 Acts III. 465/1.
That all plegeis … for … the bordouris salbe placeit on the northside of the water of Forthe 1625 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 289.
Upone the north syid of the hie streit 1626 Coll. Rebus Alban. 123.
Theiss [islands] on the north syde of Kintyre ar Giga, Jura [etc.] 1659 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 230.
Sex buttis of land lyand upon the north syde of the cobilhous(2) 1439–40 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 239.
My lande … lyande … betwix the lande of Johnne Henryson … on the south syde … and the comon vay of the Owerkvrkgat on the northe syde 1488 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. i. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 156/6.
The end thairo fis the ryver Thaneis in the north syd and Nylus in the south syd Ib. 167/9.
And the nixt cite vnto paradys on the north syd is the cite of Lazerone