We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1456, 1524-1669

[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0]

Nepvo, Nepho, n. Also: nepvoy, nepveu, -ew(e, -ieu; nephoy(e, nephu(e, nephow, nephvow, nephwoy, nepheu(e, -ew(e, -ieu, -iew, nephé. [Late ME. nepveu (1454), e.m.E. nepvoy (1562), nephew (1523); varr. of Nevo with -p- introduced appar. after L. nepos.]

1. A nephew.(a) 1456 Hay I. 65/13.
Octovian the nepueu of Julius Cesar
1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 97.
To my derrest and best beluiffit nepuo Gilbert, Maister of Cassillis
c1575 Balfour Pract. 222.
As the nepvoy or neipce
1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 52.
Nepvo
1608 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 127.
My nepvieu the Erle of Abercorne
1609 Elphinstone Fam. Bk. II. 182.
Your kyndlie acceptance of my nepueu
1613 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 365.
Doctour Craig and his tua nepvewes
1614 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 220.
Nepuieu
1615 Highland P. III. 192. 1642 Spalding II. 179.
Prince Rupert, his nepuoy … who quiklie takis journey touardis his vncle, the King of Britane
(b) 1524 Douglas Corr. 88.
The King oure soverain lordes nephieu
1525 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 230.
As ane kynde and loving eme desiring the weile of his derest nepho
1528 Douglas Corr. 131.
His derrest nepheis persone
1536 Ib. 351.
Nephow
1578 Reg. Privy C. II. 692.
Nepho
1589 Reg. Morton I. 163.
Nepheu
1618 Sutherland Corr. 137.
Nephue
1631 Justiciary Cases I. 187.
The Erll of Bukcleuche, nephoy to Roxburghe
c 1640 Maxwell Mem. II. 276.
Nepheue
c 1646 Fam. Innes 237.
For my daire nephoye Johne Innes
1651 Edinburgh Testaments LXV. 209 b.
His nephewes and nyce
1669 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III. 80.
Nephwoy

b. Applied to: the son of one's wife's half-brother; one's niece's husband.1571 Bann. Trans. 525.
Our nepho Lord Robert Stewart
1653 J. Hope Diary 159.
Overtooke the coach at Heddingtoune where my nephewes Smith and Cochrane … tooke live

2. A grandson.1526 Douglas Chart. 227.
Archibald now Erle of Angus … nepho, ayr to the said vmquhile Archibald Erle of Angus
c1575 Balfour Pract. 224.
Gif ony man deceissis leivand behind him ane nepvoy of his eldest sone alreadie deceist
1589 Reg. Morton II. 319.
William Douglas my nephoy sone … to umquhill Robert Douglas quha was the eldest son and apperand air to me
1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Eneya.
The nepuoy lauchfully begotten be the eldest sonne … is onely aire to his gud-schir
1609 Id. Reg. Maj. i. 33b.
Gif ane man deceis without sonne or dochter and hes nephois or niecis of ane sonne or of ane dochter
1609 Ib. 34. 1622-6 Bisset I. 68/16.
The said King Robertis nepheu or oy … gottin on Mariorie Bruce his dochter sall succeed to the croun
1622-6 Ib. II. 174/19.
The said King Alexander the thrid his nephu
a1651 Calderwood I. 9.
Nephew

3. Of females: A grand-daughter; ? also, a niece.1622-6 Bisset II. 174/11.
Margarett … nepheu and than appeirand air to … King Alexander the thrid
1626 Edinburgh Testaments LIII. 260.
The said Barbara Forsythe my nephew
1626 Ib.
Jonet, Mariorie & Elizabeth Forsythis my nephewis

26309

dost