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.

Nere, Neir, a.¹ Also: ner, neir, neyr, nier, nir, neer. [ME. ner (Cursor M.), e.m.E. nere (Caxton), neer(e, near(e, attributive applications of Nere adv.² Cf. Ner a.]

1. Closely related in blood or kinship.See also Degré n. 2 and Cusin(e n., Cosin(e n., Nevew n. and other terms of relationship, for further examples. 1375 Barb. i. 54.
He … That war in als ner degre And cummyn war of the neist male Ib. v. 495 (E).
A man … Wes to the King … mast priue As he that wes his sibman ner [: danger] Ib. xi. 324. ?1438 Alex. i. 138. 1432 Lamont P. 13.
Thar neyr cosen and man 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7651.
Hir neir freinds c1615 Chron. Kings 125.
He being ane neir kinnisman to the Erlle of Huntly 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 449.
Had none of his friends of neer consanguinitie to give him advyse 1666 Laing MSS. I. 350.
You ar by manie, and some nier friends hier, verie ill used c 1672 Wemyss Corr. 118.
Betuixt no nir relasions

2. a. Coming to within a short distance; accurate (shooting), close (shearing). b. Direct, immediate, not distant or roundabout (access).a. c1420 Wynt. viii. 5500.
Qwhare there wes hard and nere schotyng 1683 New Mills Manuf. 46.
That the rents and too near shearing of some cloth lately sent in be prevented in time comingb. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. v. 2.
Be quham we haue nere gaing to

c. Appar., close, narrow. — ?14.. Ship Laws c. 16 (H).
A schip or tua ar in a neir [B. narow] havin

3. Closely approaching in time, impending. 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 3.
The bludy eyn rollyng in hir hed, Wan and ful paill for feir of the neir ded c1590 Fowler II. 170/36.
By reason of the neere approching of winter

4. On the ‘near’ or left side (of an animal), left. 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. MS. 203 (7 Dec.).
This hors vas crukit and had ane knoip of his ner forder knee 1670 Kelso Baillie Ct. 70 b [see Lug n. 2 b (2)].
Near