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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.

Nichbour, Nichtbour, Nighbour, Nightbour, n. Also: ny(c)h-, nyth-, ny(c)ht-, nyt-, (nyct-), nyghnyght-, (nocht-) and -bour(e, -bowr, -bur(e, -buir, -pur, -bor(e, -ber, -biar. [Sc. var. of Nechbour: cf. ME. nijhge- (13th c.).] A neighbour.In many instances the forms nicht-, nycht- no doubt represent editorial expansions of the abbreviated ni^t, ny^t.

1. A person who lives near or next door to one; one of a number of persons living near one another, espec. in the same street or village.Also as a mode of address.(1) c 1520 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 385.
I sai borrow the laiff at … othir my nythboris about me 1638 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 123.
Tuelff honest men of the ewest freynds and neirest nichboures of the deceasit persone(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 76.
His ny[ch]tbure that … duelt nere quhare duelt he ?1438 Alex. ii. 2672.
Of gud nichtbour the wyse makes sheild Ib. 8819.
Ane euill nichtbour had I thare! Ib. 6990. 1456–70 Liber Aberbr. 107.
The said smyth … in skorne with the nychtbowris vas callit lard of Caute in derisioun a1500 Henr. III. 143/19.
Thir taill tellaris … makis lordis with freyndis and nychtbours wraithe a1500 Colk. Sow i. 85.
With a noyefull nychtbour a1500 Seven S. 834.
The tother wald spend to largely And feist his nychtbouris commonly Ib. 2047. 1501 Acta Conc. III. 116.
He sade he bocht the barel of fisch fra ane nychtbour of his aun 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 28. 1533 Gau 17/31.
Thayme quhilk rasis discord amangis nichtburs 1549 Compl. 62/23. 1549 Banff Ann. I. 24.
Suspectit to be mair hande to thair ny[ch]tboris corne ȝaird nor thair awin 1552 Elgin Rec. I. 116.
Vnder the payne of ten s. to ilk ny[ch]tbour that lyis in ilk syid of him 1560 Maxwell Mem. II. 127.
To his veilebelouit nychtbur a1568 Scott i. 124. 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 116.
Ane noysum nychtbour 1575 Reg. Privy C. II. 476.
The outlawis … hes … placeit thair movabill gudis in the handis of diverse thair nychtbouris and prevy favouraris 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 100.
War nocht the nichtbouris of the get com in 1605 Irons Leith II. 63.
Never to be troubland … oney nichtbers hous 1605 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I. 231.
Ye sall nocht faile to pas accompaneit with certane honest nychtbouris 1609 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 71.
Nather he nor ony nichtbour of the gett wald thrywe 1627 Haddington Corr. 154.
Al such of your freinds and nichtbors of the rank forsaid(c) 1658 Rothesay Par. Rec. 5.
Sitting at drink … in ther nighbouris house 1661 Black Sc. Witches 41.
Jennot Cock who was their adjacent nighbour 1668 Forbes Baron Ct. 274.
That the said Jameson his nighbores … sall … comprys thair cornes sivilie 1669 Rothesay B. Rec. 167. 1688 Musselburgh 33.(d) 1616 Macritchie Gypsies 96. 1647 Cramond Cullen Ann. 44.
Thair nyghtbouris cornis and ky 1658 S. Ronaldshay 25.
Unchristian carriage of nightbours who do not accompany the burying of the dead 1690 Banff Field C. (1905–6) 112.
For the securitie of our friends & good nightbours(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6134.
He said, My gude nichtbouris tak na feir bot be glaid 1667 Irvine Mun. II. 93.
Right honourabill and our loveing freinds and nighbou ris

b. Passing into an extended use, = one's fellowcreature, another person; in pl., others.Very freq. in echoes of biblical use, as the Ten Commandments, Luke x. 27, etc. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 316.
Thare-with hou thai suld be To thare nytboure in cheryte c1420 Ratis R. (S.T.S.) 402.
My sone, luf nocht til haf in strif with thi nychtbouris na with thi wyf Ib. 1436. 1456 Hay I. 127/10.
Quha lettis nocht the injure of his nychboure is lyke to him that dois it Ib. 173/5, 203/11, etc. a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 241.
Tak sampill ay by hir nychtbour, Gif euir scho thinkis to haff honour c1475 Wall. viii. 1606.
Was nayn so gret durst his nychtbour disples a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 572. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 20/7. Ib. 44/22. 1494 Loutfut MS. 14 b.
Humilite, luff of the nychtpuir, diligence [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 37. 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 138.
Nychtburris 1533 Gau 11/4. Ib. 15/24, 24/11. c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 124.
Nychtbouris 1549 Compl. 25/13.
Ilk man sal be aduersair tyl his nychtbour 1551 Hamilton Cat. 72.
Thow sall nocht covit ony thing fra thi nychbour Ib. 77, 84. 15.. Clar. ii. 1036.
Welcum, That sic compassioun hes on ȝour nichbour, That ȝe vouchsafe to cum and visit me 1562-3 Winȝet I. 78/31. 1567 G. Ball. 3. Ib. 9; etc. 1570 Sat. P. x. 76. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxi. 64. Ib. xlvii. 61. 1586–7 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 397.
Nyctbour c1600 Montg. Montg. Suppl. xxxvi. 12. 1596 Dalr. I. 121/10. 1588 King Cat. 40. 1622-6 Bisset I. 42/27. a1651 Calderwood II. 25.
To represse all appetite of our nighbour's hurt

c. In proverbs. ?1438 Alex. ii. 392.
Euill nichtbour makes euill morne 1558-66 Knox I. 408.
Quhan our nychtbouris house be on fyre that we duell not without daingear

d. Our (the) guid nich bouris, a propitiatory term for: The elves, the fairy-folk. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 269 (T).
On ane Alhallow Evin, Quhen our goode nichtbouris [H. good neighboures] ryddis 1581-1623 James VI Poems II. 139/33.
[Agrestis:] Goode sirris, the maruelouse cumming heir of thir guide nyhboures myne [etc.] [infra Suche elraige peopil] 1588 Crim. Trials I. ii. 162.
For hanting and repairing with the gude nychtbouris and Quene of Elfame Ib. 163.
That scho saw the guid nychtbouris mak thair sawis 1615 Orkney Witch Trial in Misc. Maitl. C. II. 167.
Convict … of the fostering of ane bairne … to the fary folk callit of hir our guid nichbouris

2. Passing into: A fellow-inhabitant of one's burgh or of some other community to which one belongs; one's fellow-townsman, fellow-burgess, etc.Common in the Burgh Laws, normally as a rendering of vicinus of the original Latin.(1) 14.. Burgh Laws c. 91 (B).
That his nychburys hafe na scath of thaim [swine] 1424 Grey Friars II. 167.
It was revelyt til me by my nychbourris of Kynggorne the qwylkis har eldar in that burgh than I ham 14.. Acts I. 30/2. Ib. 355/2. 1471 Peebles B. Rec. I. 167.
Nychburis c1475 Wall. v. 1012.
With thaim thow was a nychtbour off this toun 1488 Acts II. 208/2.
To gif thaim ane assise of thair avne nichbiaris that best knawis the verite 1500 Dunferm. B. Rec. 114.
The sade Thomas … askit ane generall inquisicione of his nychtbouris tharof 1510 Crim. Trials I. i. 67.
Gif thair be ony within burghe that purchesse lordschip in oppressioun of his nychtboris? 1563 Inverness Rec. I. 104.
That thair be na glenstaris fundin amangis nychtbouris cornis glennand 1571 St. A. Baxter Bks. 41.
Where his nychtbour hes bene to mak ony bying or bergane of quhyt … that his nychtbour bid na mair nor is offerit 1571 Sat. P. xxv. 113.
As for my nychtbouris Edinburch toun 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 441.
To elect ane nichtbour and conburges of thair awin to beir that chairge 1581 Dunbar Moray Doc. 95. 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 37.
And called them and so many of ther nyghbours as he pleased furth of ther owne jurisdiction to … Forres 1588 Ib. 41.
Be youris awin nychtbour Alexander Chalmer of Cultis 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 7.
Quhat sum euer tennent … that happennis to inwaid his nychbour 1665 Rothesay B. Rec. 97. 1667 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 92.
That many of our nighboures and comburgessis may nocht now frielie travell abroad(2) 1468–9 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 24.
Richt honorable and worschipfull schiris and wele beluwyt nichtburis 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 40.
Nichtbors, we ar strangelie menassit in this toun 1667 Irvine Mun. II. 93.
Our loveing freinds and nighbouris

b. An inhabitant or resident burgess of a burgh or resident member of some other community.Espec. one who has been accepted or duly admitted to full citizenship of the burgh or membership of the community, with the privileges and obligations attaching thereto. 1456 Aberd. B. Rec. (S.H.S.) cxvi.
To end al smal complayntis betu ex nyghboris 1468 Peebles B. Rec. I. 158.
That ilk nychtbur suld lay vj laid of stanis at the Kow furd 1471 Banff Ann. I. 20. 1488 Peebles Gleanings 271.
Nychtburris 1493 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 49.
Wilyem Lambert … desyrit to be maid nychtbour … and thai fand him suifficiand and he than enterit burges 1503 Aberd. B. Rec. (S.H.S.) lxxxvi. 1522 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 64.
That all nychburis within the town that hes nocht ane hedrowm of thair awin … to help and supple other nychtburis 1525 (1527) Reg. Great S. 97/1.
Quhat persone of the said craft … causis ony nychbouris of the said craft induellaris to be summond [etc.] 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. MS. 203 (7 Dec.).
In tyme of bying ve nychtbouris schow that [etc.] 1540 Elgin Rec. I. 27.
And callis them to his courts for actiones depending betuixt nighbour and nighbour 1541 Ib. 59.
That no nychbor of this bruch trubill him in pundding of the guiddis 1558–9 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 27.
[That he] tak souertie of the said depute of honest responsibill nychtbouris 1582 Burntisland B. Ct. 19 July.
Johin Coilȝair nichtbour in this brught Ib. 21 Aug.
Quha hes also deponit thair greit bodiley aithis to be gud leall trew and faithfull nichbouris and [etc.] 1583 Ib. 10 Dec.
Andro Lillie maltmane is maid and admittit fremane and nychtbour of this burght 1585 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 109.
As twiching the marchandis compleint against the nychtbouris of Edinburgh now dwelling in this toun Ib. 110.
That no flescheris, nychtbour nor vtheris, blaw flesche 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 17.
Ane nychtbour and burges of our said burgh callit George Strawchine 1589 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 243. 1601 Ib. 391.
He to ring the burriall bell … quhen nichbouris deceises 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 23.
For the giffing in of ane prewie dittay aganis … honest nychbouris in the parochin 1604 St. A. Baxter Bks. 68. 1612 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 86. 1632 Aberd. Trades 223.
Certaine nichtbouries of this craft at lawings and other societies … offendis thair nichbouris be offensive speeches 1632 Banff Ann. I. 68.
Ye sall scot and loit … with nightbors and wtheris 1660 Conv. Burghs III. 516.
Nightbowris

c. plur. The inhabitants or resident burgesses of a burgh or members of a community, collectively; the citizenry, the community as a whole.(a) 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 8.
That al the communytie alsweile vnfree as free men be sworne to rise with the alderman and balȝeis in the defence of the toune and of the nychbores of the toune 1460 Newburgh B. Ct. 2 b.
The … balȝeis of the said burgh coym togyddyr … wytht the officiaris & nychburis & gaf sessyng [etc.](b) 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 191.
All other … thingis the quhilkis rynnis in the courtis of the lordis … ar determyt outane birlawes the quhilkis ar led with consent of the nychtburis 14.. Acts I. 338/2.
Gif ther be ony that tell or revel till other the consail and privateis of the nychtburis 1454–5 Edinb. Chart. 80. 1472 Ib. 134.
Al and sindry the burges nychtbouris and induellaris the said toune 1475 Peebles B. Rec. I. 174. 1480 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 37. 1522–3 Treas. Acc. V. 210.
Chargeand the baillies and nychtbouris of Kingorne, Pettinveme and Anstrather to [etc.] 1529 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II. 7.
In defalt of the officiaris and nochtbouris [sic] that [etc.] 1541 Elgin Rec. I. 63.
His ayth of fidelate to this bruch and nychtboris of the samyn 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III. iii.
Vnderstanding that … thair wes be consent of the nychtbouris of this burgh ane confrarie [etc.] c1575 Balfour Pract. 46.
And efter that he hes maid his aith he sall kisse the provest and the nichtbouris 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Bvrlaw. 1607 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 46.
Ane braile maid be Willie Andersone aganest the nychtbouris of Redpeth in cutting of ane ledder(c) 1444 Aberd. B. Rec. (S.H.S.) xcix.
Al maner of gudes of aventur … til dispone thaim to the nyghbouris 1549 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 146.
To … warne all and sundre the nighbouris and inhabitaris that [etc.] 1660 S. Ronaldshay 35.
[The minister] called together the nighbours in the Hope and exercised at his own dwelling house 1665 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 65.
Nighburis 1672 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 120. 1681 Ib. XI. 9. 1693 Glasgow B. Rec. IV. 78. 1696 Edinb. B. Rec. XII. 201.(d) 1611 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 21.
Proportionallie fra the haill nyghtbouris 1613 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 105.
How evill the nyghtbors of this burg ar furnishat of lang waponis

d. Predicatively, (to be, to live as) (ane) lawful, sufficiand etc. nichbour:To conduct oneself lawfully or creditably as a member of a burghal or other community; to be possessed of suitable qualifications (e.g. property, good reputation, etc.) for membership of the community; to obey the rules or principles governing mutual relations within a community, to practise ‘good neighbourhood’ (see Nichbourhede n. 2). 1460 Newburgh B. Ct. 3 b.
That the forsaid Andrev Horn wes na sufficiand na profitabyl na lawchtful nychtbur 1461 Ib. 6 a.
Wyl of Muris vyf vnsuffyciande nyhtbur 1622 Urie Baron Ct. 45.
Ather cotter, greasman or woman that is thocht … nocht to be laufull nichtbouris and wantis keall or peitts 1632 Cullen B. Ct. MS. 9 Nov.
To leawe in tym cuming as ane leyall and sufficient nichbour

3. An inhabitant of an adjacent or near-by town, district or country; also, the ruler of an adjacent territory. 1375 Barb. i. 87.
Thai trowyt that he, as gud nychbur, … Wald hawe iugyt in lawte Ib. xx. 273 (E).
With all our nychtbowris dred war we c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2235. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 101 (B).
Na man aw to ponde his nychbur of ane vthyr burgh for det 1456 Hay I. 43/16.
Nocht agaynstandand that Rome had pes with all thair nychtbouris 1468–9 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 24.
[Town Council of Edinburgh to Town Council of Aberdeenn]: Wele beluwyt nichtburis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 19.
Lat us commoun of peace as nichtbouris, and freindis alliat togidder Id. Livy I. 28/32.
The pepill quhilkis war nerrest nychtbouris 1533 Boece i. vii. 50 b. 1570 Leslie 183.
Oppressione of thair nyghbouris in all partis of the hieland cuntreis and in the law landis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 320.
With our nychtbouris of Ingland c1590 Fowler II. 79/10.
Nighbour 1588 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 588.
Nyghbour 1596 Dalr. I. 97/6.
In speiche thay [the Lowland Scots] differ nocht far frome thair nychtbouris the Inglise men Ib. 236/6.
Peace and concorde with the princes his nerrest nychtbouris he evir manteined 1614 Laing MSS. I. 132.
My nightbouris the Cambells 1622-6 Bisset II. 194/23.
Depairted this lyfe … with greit … prase of all his subiectis and nychtbouris 1671 Aberd. Council Lett. V. 142.
This brughe haveing receavit ane letter from our nightbours the brughe of Edenbrughe

b. Also said of the neighbouring town, district, etc. 1596 Dalr. I. 29/13.
Our nychbour Inglande has nocht ane wolfe Ib. 34/26.
Strathmund mairouer hes Athol to her nychtbour

4. a. One who on a certain occasion is situated beside or close to another.e.g. one sitting beside another at a meal. 1375 Barb. xvi. 478.
And specialy quhill the Dowglas So neir hand by thair nychtbour was c1650 Spalding I. 242.
Syne ilkane gave the [communion] covp to his nightbour

b. Applied to inanimate things of the same sort which are situated near one another. 1456 Hay I. 162/22.
Bot sum othir of the gude herbis that ar nere thaim next nychtbouris mon be ruggit up with thame

5. A workman's fellow-worker or assistant, his ‘mate’. 1668 Stirling Common Good 50 b.
To Androw Reid & his nighbour for putting her [the stock of the old bell] aboard the boat 1680 Fawside Coal Compt 54.
To Will. Miller & his nighbour of ernest 00:06:8 Ib. 59.
Miller & his nighbour for reding 01:10:0

6. (To be) ane nichbour, (to be) nichbouris, to.To be a neighbour, neighbours, of, to live or lie nearby.(1) 1536–7 Sc. Hist. Rev. VII. 361.
Becauss he is ane nichtbour and tenant to the abbot … of Melros contigue adjacent to the landis(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1239 (C).
All landis that nyghboures were To Troye 1456 Hay I. 104/32.
Sodome and Gomorre and othir thre citeis nychbouris to thame 1535 Stewart 29587.
The ylis men wer nychtbouris to Argyle 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 82.
Ane few pure folkis the nixt dwelling nichtbouris to the Kingis ludgeing 1596 Dalr. I. 47/16.
Nichtbouris to thame is Buquhane

b. transf. and fig. To be nichbour till, to be neir nichbouris, to be closely related or allied (to). c1490 Porteous Noblenes 180/10 (Asl.).
Deligens … is nychtboure till noblenes 1596 Dalr. II. 183/8.
Quhen Scotis and Inglis language ar neir nychtbouris, sounding almaist baith alyk

7. Attrib. passing into adj. a. Of enmity or war: That exists between neighbours in senses 1 or 2 above; internal, domestic, ‘civil’. ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 63.
For nichtbure tressoun amangis ȝour self … Ȝe haue halelie conqueist bene 1533 Boece ii. xi. 80 b.
Uthir wayis ȝe sall lippin nocht ellis bot domestic & nychtbour were Ib.
Intestine sedicion & nychtboure feid 1583 Sempill Warning iv. 4.
Pryd and nychtbour veir 1596 Dalr. I. 261/12.
Nichtbour fide being put to rest amang the commoun people Ib. 272/16.
The Peichtes eftir this war na lesse trublet with nychtbour feades than with externe weiris 1626 Garden Worthies 121.
Long with the jaws of nightbour jarrs I justed

b. (Love) of one's neighbour, in sense 1 or 1b above. 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 21.
My coller of trew nichtbourlufe it was

c. That is a neighbour (also, a (fellow-) citizen or an inhabitant of the place) in various above senses, espec. 3 and 3b.(1) 1456 Hay II. 154/21.
Or othir nychtbouris princis 1533 Boece i. vii. 48 b.
He ferit nocht litill the incrementis of thai nychtboure naciouns Ib. iii. 36 b. c1590 Fowler II. 77/14. 1596 Dalr. I. 48/34.
Of Abirdine their nychtbour citie 1587-99 Hume 169/32.
Our nychtbour countrey of England 1615 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 23 May.
In the nychtbour parochis 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1312.
Betuix King James the Thrid And th' Inglishe nightbour king Id. Kings 31.
The Saxons … His nighbour Pights to warre on him inveits 1657 Balfour Ann. IV. 129.
Our nighboure kingdomes of England and Irland 1685 Dunlop P. III. 13.
Our cariage towards all our nightbour Indians(2) 1535 Stewart 28285.
In Albione … The nychbour men that duelt into that steid Tha schew to him that Convallus wes deid 1559 Inverness Rec. I. 35.
Gyf he beys fundyn saing sic to onne nychtbor wyf in tyme cuming 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 113. 1592 Stirling B. Rec. I. 85.
It sall nocht be lesom to the said James to mak alienatioun of the said bray … bot to the nychtbour burgessis & induellaris

d. With the names of topographical features or buildings: Nearby. c1590 Fowler II. 156/24.
Whils as he is suillted and deborded ouerfloueth all the plane, drovneth the nighbour banks [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset II. 217/23.
In the nychtboure houssis towardis the sea coist

e. Nichtbour aith, see sense 2 above and Nichbourhede n. 2. 1575 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 13.
The quhilk day William Hutoun … was interit burges and maid the nychtbour aith