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.
NETTIE, adj. Also netty, naetie, naitie, nittie (Edm.), net(t)i, nati (Jak.). [′nɛte]
1. Agile, deft, quick in movement, smart, neat (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Cai. 1907 County of Cai. (Horne) 80; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh., Cai. 1964).Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 242:
I wis peerie but naetie.
2. Tenacious, niggardly (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., natie).
[Orig. somewhat confused. Prob. mainly from Norw. dial. naten, Icel., O.N. natinn, nimble, brisk, energetic, Faer. natin, greedy, Norw. dial. natig, quick, energetic, niggardly. But there has been strong formal and semantic influence from nettie, Neat, and slang Eng. natty, trim, spruce, and some of the forms may in fact belong to these. Cf. also natti, Nat.]
