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.
(Nefare,) Newfare, Neifar, Neiffer, -ir, Niffer, v. [f. Nefare,n.]
1. tr. a. To exchange or barter one thing for (with) another. b. To exchange or barter something with another person (for a similar article or one of comparable value).a. 15.. Old Dundee II. 201.
James Page upheld his mare faultless which he neifarit with John's horse 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1822) 111/2.
We would desire a market where we might barter or niffer our lazy ease with a profitable cross 1637 Ib. (1891) 269.
I would not niffer Christ with all the joys that man or angel can devise beside himb. 1540 Linlithgow B. Ct. 27 Oct.
Anent ane hors that the said Villiam newfarit with the said Watt 1563–4 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. 20 Jan.
Ane brovne meir … quhilk thai neiffirrit with Brwme & gat ane liart naig & iiij li. x s. of bute 1641 Acts V. 447/2.
He nifferit that staig with John Buchannan 1699 Black Bk. Kincardineshire 113.
The panel said that one of them [three cows] was his own, another he had niffered with his brother for a steer
2. intr. a. To do a bartering deal, to perform an exchange, do a trade. b. In passive sense: To pass or be received in exchange, to be accepted in barter.a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 424.
Of weillie persons: … He neiffers [MS. niffers] for the better 1612 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 109.
And efter that the said cow wald not niffer
