Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1881
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NANSE, prop. n. Also Nans (Slk. 1824 Hogg Justified Sinner (1874) 523), now chiefly in dim. forms Nansy (Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 20, Nansie (Ayr. 1785 Burns Jolly Beggars Recit. i.), Nanzie Fif. 1897 S. Tytler Lady Jean's Son iv.), = Eng. Nancy, pet forms of Agnes (Ayr. 1785 Burns Adam Armour's Prayer v., Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson). Gen.Sc. [nɑns; ′nɑnsi; also ′nɑnze by confusion with -Sie, suff.] The female Christian name, in comb. pretty nansy, a kind of embroidered tape or braid.Abd. 1881 J. W. Ritchie G. Tough's Squeel (1931) 10:
Pretty Nansy, strippit stringin'.
