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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Other, Oder, adv. (conj.) and pron.² Also: othir(e, -yr(e, -eir, -air; odyr. [ME. and e.m.E. oðer (1127–31), oþerr (Orm), other, oiþer (Manning), also early ME. oþþer (1200–25), e.m.E. also (once) oder (1526), of uncertain origin.The OE. sequence oððe … oððe ‘either … or’ was superseded in early ME. by oðer … oðer, but the precise origin or formation of the latter remains uncertain.Cf. also Owther etc., and Nother.]

1. Either. = Owther 2.Either placed directly before the alternative words, phrases or clauses or at some earlier point in the sentence. In the written record (in the absence of the supra-segmental signals of stress and intonation which presumably existed in speech) ambiguity with Other a.¹ may arise when a plural or ‘non-count’ noun directly follows or when certain pronouns, e.g. ane or ony, immediately precede.(1) 1375 Barb. xv. 218 (E).
Thar eschapyt neuir ane That thaim war othir tane or slayn a1400 Leg. S. iv. 126.
Vnhurt othir in lith ore lyme Ib. xiii. 64.
Othyre Ib. xvi. 362, xxx. 97. 1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 410/2.
Othir be grace trety or prosces of law 1393–4 Argyll Mun. MS. 13 Jan.
Gif I othir sel or wedsett c1420 Wynt. iv. 298.
That mannys wertu or hys wyte Mycht othir do or wndo it 1456 Acts II. 45/2. 1462 Peebles B. Rec. I. 147. c1466-80 Letter from Lord Hamilton.
Gif ther be other hors hawkis or hundis or ony other gudis that ȝhe desyr c1475 Wall. ii. 304. Ib. xi. 298. 1507–8 Reg. Privy S. I. 239/2. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 276.
Gif evir I wes othir art or part of Alarudis slauchter 1535 Stewart 32259. Ib. 7330, 58312.
Nother ȝoung or ald Riche or puir, other ill or gude 1549 Compl. 135/18.
There is nocht ane of vs … that can get othir tak or steyding or kou or ox fra our tua bredir 1551 Hamilton Cat. 165.
Ye may other understand be the dede all synnaris … or litterally understanding be the dede all thame quhilk … is … dede c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2658. 1562–3 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 59.
Otheir in the kirk of Borthick … or into ony place quhare sche plesit 1562-3 Winȝet I. 30/6.
Quhow mony … othir throw ignorance dissauit or throw malice blyndit, impugnis [etc.] Ib. II. 18/12.
That gif othir I or ony wthir wald persaue the dissaitis 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 120.
The gevar … nevir … othir sauld or maid ony maner of dispositioun … to na uthir persone 1571 Lanark B. Rec. 63.
That na persone … that beis fund makand other inpediment or moves ple or cumer [etc.] 1573 Cath. Tr. 13/3.
For laick other of gude discurs or witt a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxix. 4.
Othair 1626 Justiciary Cases I. 52. 1638 Henderson Serm. 443.
And it is not possible for any othir to abstain from sin or to set themselves to the doing of any good duty but through this fear of God(b) a1500 Seven S. 104.
Oder is the erd hiear rasit, Or hevyn declynit c 1550 Fam. Rose 217.
Odyr lat this mater tak effect now or [etc.] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 163.
Think nocht that God … hes oder rycht hand or left hand 1555 Boyd Fam. P. No. 43 (6 Dec.).
Oder be resignatioun confirmatioun or be apprysing 1561 Inverness Rec. I. 59. 1570 Ib. 189.
Odyr fre or unfre mennis sounis(2) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 541.
For warldis wa othir is licht … Or ellis ar thai sa hard and sar That [etc.] c1475 Wall. x. 15. 1549 Compl. 167/6.
Othir be proces & pleyis or ellis be violens c 1571–9 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lxvi.
I most other find sum way to pay or leise kyndnes, or ellis [etc.](3) a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 456.
Bot for gyftis I neuir sawld To man othyr ȝung na auld a1578 Pitsc. I. 35/23.
Nor ȝeit ar we in sa honourabill estait, other witht nobillis nor with commouns

2. conj. Or. = Owther 3. 14.. Acts I. 90*/2 (red 432/2).
Giff ony of oure brether trespas … throu wordlaik other gangand fra the gyld

3. pron. Each, both.Other of thair = each other's; there is appar. some confusion with Other a. and pron. B 2. 1641 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 256.
For … scrating … wtheris faces to the effusioun of other of thair blodis