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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.

New-ȝer(e, Newer, Nure, n. Also: newe-, neuand -ȝeir(e, -ȝier, -ȝear, -yere, etc.; neyer; newer, -ar, new'r; neur, nure, nuir; near. [ME. new ȝer (Orm), nw(e) ȝer (14th c.), e.m.E. new(e) yere, yeer, year: cf. MDu. niewejaer (Du. nieuwjaar), MLG. niejâr, Icel. nýjár, Da. nytaar, etc.The contracted forms, which are only Sc., occur also in the mod. dial.]Popularly, and after 1599 in Scotiand also officially (see 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI. 63), the New Year was regarded as beginning on 1st January.For many additional examples of the combs., see the indexes to the various printed vols. of Treas. Acc.

1. The New Year, the year just begun or about to begin; also, the first few days of January. 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 309.
The x day of Januare, giffin to Sande Ellem … that brocht the tithingis to the King of the first bargane in the new ȝere [£4/16/2] c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxx. 12.
God giue thé guid prosperitie … In hansell of this guid new ȝeir a1568 Scott i. 8. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xv. 30. 1661 Stockholm New Year's Gift Title.
The authors most serious vvishes and vvotive desires of a prosperous neu year ? 1672 Fraser Polichron. 501.
The Chisholm prevailed with my lord to take his new yeare with him at Earchles

2. Attrib. or possess. in various combs.

a. New ȝere day, New ȝeris day, New Year's Day, the 1st January.For further examples see Larges n. 3.(1) 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 127.
On new ȝere da, the first da of Januar, … to the Kingis offerrande 1533 Ib. MS. 31 Dec.
To be thaim play-coittis agane newȝeire day a1538 Abell 125 b.
And that on the Sonday eftir Sanct Katherinis day, bot the solempnizatioun wes maid eftirwert on new ȝere day 1562–3 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 155. 1563–4 Boyd Fam. P. No. 48 (15 Feb.).
At new ȝeir day last bipast 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 21. 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 9.
Cumand to hir hous about newyeirday(b) 1574–5 St. A. Kirk S. 404.
Dilatit for keping of ȝwil haly, and in spetial on newarday last was in his hows, the same being ful of lychtis and mony in cumpany a1578 Pitsc. II. 323/4.
[1 Jan. 1575–6] quhilk was callit newar day quhilk was the first day of the ȝeir 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS. 3 Apr.
About ȝule newer day and candilmes(2) 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 323.
The first day of Januar, beand new ȝeris day 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI. 63.
Undirstanding that in all utheris weill governit commoun welthis … the first day of the yeir begynis yeirlie upoun the first day of Januare, commounlie callit new yeiris day, and that this realme onlie is different fra all utheris [etc.] 1603 Montgomery Mem. 248.
Four eir reings … gifin at nevyeires day to my Lady Haringtouns vemen 1605 Mill Mediæv. Plays 163.
[That] na man nor woman … about the superstitious tyme of yuill or newyeris day … sall presume to … disagyse thame selffis 1679 Law Memor. 191.
Giving and receiving of gifts on new-years-day, too, too common amongst Christians though a heathenish custome; Durham Commandments (1675) 47. [The Gibbites renounce] new-year's-day

b. New ȝer(is) evin, New Year's Eve, 31st December.(1) 1510 Justiciary Rec. II. 253.
Betuix this and newyere evin nixt to cum 1538 Treas. Acc. VII. 112.
On new ȝeir evin, the last day of December 1660 S. Ronaldshay 29.
To have upon new ȝier even, under night, come to the minister his houss and thair sung wantone and prophaine songs in contempt of the minister(2) 1605 Mill Mediæv. Plays 163.
That nane gang throch the towne on newyeiris evin singing any songis 1649 Echt Kirk S. in Strathbogie Presb. xiii (see e below). 1705 McPherson Prim. Beliefs 21.
Of carrieing of lighted clevies or torches about their boats on new years even

c. New ȝer(is) gift.(1) 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV. 323.
Deliverit be the Kingis grace to the Quenis grace in hir new ȝeir gift ane small linkit chenȝee knoppit Ib. 324.
To thair new ȝeir giftis, ilk ane j Franch croun 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 206.
That scho [the Queen] be propinit to hir neyer [ed. nether] gift with sum cowpis of siluer 1561–2 Treas. Acc. XI. 102.
In thair new ȝeir gift ten crounis a1568 Scott Bann. MS. 90 a.
Ane new ȝeir gift to the Quene Mary quhen scho come first hame 1562(b) 1538 Treas. Acc. VII. 14.
Ane coffir quhilk wes gevin to the Quene of Naverne in hir newar gift 1634 Johnston Diary I. 190.
Quhilk three [things] I wald receave from God as the best neurgift in the world 1673 Cunningham Diary 31.
To my sister Rebecca for her nuir-gift [£2/16/0.] 1675 Ib. 49.
Nuregift Ib. 87.
To Mat. Allason in neargift [12s. 0d.] Ib. 88.
To Ja. Forfar in new'rgift. 6s.(2) 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV. 252.
For his new ȝeris gift to be hyme ane coit, vj elnis greis 1525–6 Ib. V. 254. 1579 Ib. MS. 2.
As for his newȝeiris gift … xl s. 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Strena, a newe-ȝeires gift 1673 in Red Bk. Grandtully I. cxvi.
This new'rs gift

d. New ȝer(is) mes, New .Year mass (see quot. 1588), but chiefly = New Year's day or tide.(1) 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 126.
For the lordis to cum to the King at new ȝere mes 1495 Ib. 268.
To Robert Douglas of the wyne cellar to his basing siluir at newȝeremes 1523–4 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 194.
Ye haif mervell that I com nocht to your grace eftir newyermes as your grace commandit me 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 260.
That all merchandis [etc.] … send thair seruandis with torcheis to tbe convoying of the prouest all the festuall dayis of yule, new-yeir-mes and vphellymes fra the evinsang to his awne lugeing(b) 1588 King Cat. in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 175.
1 January, newermes, quhilk is the circumcision of Christ vnder Augustus(2) 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 335.
For v ringis deliverit be him to the Kingis grace at new ȝeris mese 1538 Ib. VII. 123.
For x elnis of blak rubanys to hyng tabillatis gevin in new ȝeris mes be the Kingis grace 1614 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II. 158.
ix lib. at new ȝersmes 1615 1615 Bk. Islay 278.
He stayed in Glasgw upon this ansuer till newersmes

e. Neuyeir soungis (= songs). 1649 Echt Kirk S. in Strathbogie Presb. xiii.
James Arthour, kirk officer, being delait for singing off nevyeir soungis on nevyeiris ewin throu sindrie housis and tounis off the parisch