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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NEW-YEAR, n.comb. Also Noo'eer (Ags.) and reduced forms, esp. in combs., n'yer, new(e)r-, neuer-, ne'(e)r-, ne'ar, nair-, nu(i)r-, noor(s)-, neever-. Sc. forms and usages. See also Hogmanay. [nju′(j)ir, em.Sc. (a) nu′ir, Ayr. ′nju(ə)r-, wm. and sm.Sc. ′nir-, Lth., s.Sc. ′ner-, Cai. ′nivər-]

1. Combs.: (1) New Year bread, bread baked with special ingredients for New-year's day; (2) noor-cake, an oatmeal cake, gen. of special crispness and tastiness, given to children on their New-year rounds. See also (7); (3) New'r(s)day (Sc. 1887 Jam.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), Newer- (Sh. 1901 Shetland News (19 Jan.)), Ne'ar- (Rnf. 1870 J. Nicholson Idylls 59), Ne'(e)r-, Nair- (Gsw. 1868 J. Young Poems 86), Neever- (Cai. 1907 County of Cai. (Horne) 80), Noors-, Nur(w.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Ayr. 1889 H. Johnston Glenbuckie 171), Nower-, (i) New-year's day. Freq. attrib.; (ii) a New-year's day gift, New-year cheer. Gen.Sc. Cf. 2.; (4) Neever even, and tautological form Newrn(s) een, the day before New-year's day, New-year's eve (wm.Sc. 1887 Jam.; Cai. 1907 County of Cai. (Horne), Neever-, 80; Ork. 1964); (5) Newrgift, = (3) (ii) (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Sh. 1964); (6) Newersmas, Neuers-, New-year-tide (Sh. 1964, Newrsmas). Also attrib.; (7) New Year's piece, a cake or piece of currant bread or the like given to children begging Hogmanay (Ags. 1964); see also (2); (8) N'yer time, New-year-tide; (9) Old New-year's day, New-year's day, Old Style, now 12th January (I.Sc. 1964, Ald Newrday).(1) Sc. 1875 A. Hislop Anecdotes 141:
The Anker-stock was a round loaf made of rye-flour, and seasoned with spice and currants, and used as “New Year bread”.(2) Peb. 1800 Edb. Mag. (Dec.) 475:
The custom of giving noor-cakes to the children of those who are destined to travel in the lower walks of life.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 27:
Cheese an' nappie noor-cakes.(3) (i) Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 14:
To glad their sauls wi' Nurday cheer.Abd. 1793 Trans. Bch. Field Club XIV. 73:
This being nower day the lads at ther Divershon.Ayr. 1819 Kilmarnock Mirror 318:
Neist time she cums athort me in a Nuirday morning, I'll nick her forehead wi' a jockteleg.m.Sc. 1842 A. Rodger Stray Leaves 51:
I hae gotten baith my cheese an' whisky laid in . . . you'll maybe come and get a preeing o't at New'r-day.wm.Sc. 1854 Laird of Logan 69:
A man may as weel try to haud a yoong naig without a tether, as haud new'rs-day without drink.Sc. 1893 Stevenson Letters (1899) II. 308:
I think it should reach you about Noor's Day.Sc. 1936 Scots Mag. (May) 139:
Kate likely would have given you the right-about, as she did the Minister himself seven years come Ne'erday.wm.Sc. 1954 Robin Jenkins The Thistle and the Grail (1994) 8:
Glory, without a fragment of which no faith can survive, was become as scarce as whisky at a poorhouse Ne'erday. Sc. 1962 Scotsman (6 Oct.) 6:
By about Ne'erday, which is not fardistant, more than 100,000 jobless people will be signing on for the “dole” in Scotland.wm.Sc. 1987 Anna Blair Scottish Tales (1990) 93:
Accordingly when the McNairs opened their doors after the ne'erday holiday, both proprietors who had been sinking dowdily into middle age, emerged to the astonished clientele in youthful toupees lightly powdered. Sc. 1987 Scotsman 3 Jan :
It's easy, but unprofitable, to lament the loss of old ways in this era of rapid change when it seems only yesterday that ten thousand foregathered at Edinburgh's Tron and Glasgow Tolbooth to see Ne'erday with heart and hand. Sc. 1989 Scotsman 7 Jan 7:
But by the end of Ne'er Day, anyone listening non-stop to Radio Scotland would be quite deaved with the monotony. wm.Sc. 1991 Liz Lochhead Bagpipe Muzak 42:
He blotted his copybook making one or two cracks too minny on that subject to Joy's Man when we had them over for steak pie on the Ne'erday. Sc. 1994 Daily Record 9 Apr 15:
A man had a Ne'erday drink with his neighbour ... Lnk. 1997 Duncan Glen From Upland Man 9:
It's neerday. It's ane o'clock.
and the dinner set in the front dinin-room
used but aince a year.(ii) Sc. 1897 J. Wright Scenes 15:
Visiting my grannie to get my “ne'erday”, . . . a daud of shortbread and currant-bun and a bawbee.Gsw. 1902 J. J. Bell Wee Macgreegor i.:
Ye maun ha'e yer Ne'erday, wumman, like ither folk.(6) Fif. 1844 J. Jack St. Monance 19:
Keep yer snaw-baws to yer new'rsmas cronies.Sh. 1932 J. Saxby Trad. Lore 157:
One Neuersmas a large party had assembled at the Moolapund.(7) Sc. 1849 M. Oliphant M. Maitland xiii.:
If ane could but ken that there was some kindly body about her to gie her her New Year's piece!(8) Sc. 1923 R. Macrailt Hoolachan 32:
I ha'e my seeven and sax a week, and burial fees, and a shillin' or twa noo and than, and at N'yer time.(9) Sc. 1797 Edb. Mag. (May) 398:
In the course of the night of Old Newyear's Day last.

2. A gift or a drink of liquor given in hospitality at the New Year. Gen.Sc.Abd. 1889 Bon-Accord (12 Jan.) 9:
I gae'm's New Year, an' haith his tongue begood tae wag.