Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

(Ner,) Nar, Nair, a. [ME. and e.m.E. nerre and north. e.m.E. narr(e (1607) compar. adj. = nearer, and mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial. nar compar. and positive adj. = nearer, near, OE. néarra compar. of néah near and ON. nærre compar. adj.: cf. Ner adv. and Nere a.¹] a. (The) shorter or (the) direct (road or route). b. Closely related. c. ‘Near’ or left (side of an animal). —a. 1513 Doug. v. iv. 18.
Cloanthus he dyd behald Hard at hys taill that gan the nar way haldb. c1650 Spalding II. 44.
He … cam in to the Erll Marschall his nar cusingc. 1622 Hawick Ann. 232.
Ten quhyt and ane blak [sheep] keillit on the nar syd with tar 1667 Kelso Baillie Ct. 70 b.
And thrie [ewes] cutt in the fair luige and foir haved in the nair