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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 by, Neir by, adv. and prep. Also: ner, neire, neere, near(e and bye. [Nere adv.; By adv., By prep.: cf. e.m.E. nere by (1509). Cf. also Ner by.Written as one or two words.For analysed forms, see Nere adv. 13.]

A. adv. 1. Close by, close at hand.Also with about and const. til.(1) a1400 Leg. S. v. 101.
Sancte Johne that than erand had Ner by Ib. xxxvi. 1104.
He … lukit a-bout that na mane Ware nere by Ib. xii. 64; etc. c1420 Wynt. i. 363.
Tyll a crag that wes neir by He bare hym Ib. viii. 4314; etc. 14.. Acts I. 328/2.
To the hous of the lepir men gif thar be ony sic ner by in the cuntrie c1475 Wall. ii. 88.
Ner by a1500 Seven S. 913.
Nere by a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1175.
Thai … Kest thair carionis in a place neir by 1531 Bell. Boece I. xl.
Ane man … quhilk wes standing neir by 1534 Bamff Chart. 65.
Neirby 1535 Stewart 10697; etc.
Neirby in sicht 1549 Compl. 7/23. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 130. 1613 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 33.
Neirby 1674 Cunningham Diary 3.
John Murdie who dwells in a mailling neir by(2) a1500 Bk. Chess 1799.
Thai walkynnit all that war about ner by 1535 Stewart 56141.
With Scottismen thair bydand … Neirby about in mony sindrie place(3) a1400 Leg. S. xxiii. 100.
Thai passyt nere by til a hil Of Celyone & rest has tane

2. Nearly, almost; approximately, ‘more or less’. Or neir by, = ‘or thereby’, or thereabouts, almost.(1) 1456 Hay I. 169/10.
The quhilk destroyit … nereby all the kingis of the warld 1535 Stewart 15284.
Neirby Ib. 22302.
Britane also withoutin inhabitour Neirby maid waist 15.. Clar. i. 322.
Than raise hir maistres … And said that it was supper tyme neir by 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 161/12.
I am neirby satiffeit with ȝour ansueris 1562-3 Winȝet I. 134/13.
In the tyme of the aunciant martyr Irenæus, neirby xiiij c. ȝeris passit 1596 Dalr. I. 262/8. Ib. II. 306/15.
Al passage of treffik … was neirby cuttit away fra Britannie 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Serplath.
The fidder of lead conteinis neereby sexscore and aucht stane 1587-99 Hume 35/33.
And lo the halfe neereby the space is gane 1606 Haddington Corr. 117.
Your lordship salbe there nearbye as soone as … I wilbe 1641 Acts V. 513/1.
The late … King of Swedin, whose wntimeous deith … nereby ruined your petitioners estate a1721 Wodrow Hist. (1829) II. 413.
The custom-house was near by filled with pots, pans [etc.](2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 73.
Quhen he was seuin ȝeir auld or neir by 1666 Decis. Lords G. 132.
Wodset lands set … for half meal or nearby

B. prep. 3. Close to, near (in place, also in time).(1) 1375 Barb. vii. 516 (E).
In a wod ner by Glentruele quhar logyt wes the King Ib. x. 377 (C).
Thai com ner by thar but abaid a1400 Leg. S. xx. 63.
Nere by c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1158. c1420 Wynt. iii. 319.
Thai enbussyd thame ner by [C. nere thar by; W. neire by] That womanys house Ib. v. 2611. 1456 Hay I. 64/27.
Thare was a labourare nereby Rome Ib. 154/3.
Bot suppos we that he … have nouther land [etc.] … nere by quhare he takis him a1500 Henr. Orph. 96.
In a schawe ner by this lady ȝing c1475 Wall. i. 378. a1500 K. Hart 314.
Ane previe closet … Was neir the dungeoun wall neir by the ground a1500 Bernardus 126.
Thi nychbour that dwellis thé ner by c1500 Fyve Bestes 369.
This wretchit wolf neir by this lyoun lay 1535 Stewart 38914. Ib. 24973; etc. 15.. Clar. ii. 253. 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest ii.
Thoise placis ar maist subject to the pest, quhilkis ar neirby the see a1578 Pitsc. (1728) 36.
Sir William Crighton … chanced near by this same place 1611 Reg. Panmure I. xxix.
On the east syd of the pulpit neir by the southe wal of the kirk 1615 Crim. Trials III. 369.(2) c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. cxxviii. 1.
This hyndir nicht neir by the hour of nyne To bed I went

b. Nearly in accordance with, in a similar manner to. 1535 Stewart 7460.
Judges he maid neirby the vse of Rome