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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NOWTHER, conj., adv. Also nouther, nauther; ¶nodder (Sc. 1793 R. Brown in Ramsay's Poems (1808) 717). Neither (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 410); none, of more than two. Now only dial. in Eng. [′nʌuðər]Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 27:
We have nouther pat nor pan But four bare legs the gither.
Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 211:
For here, wae's me! there's nouther lord nor laird.
Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 50:
I can tell you nowther mair nor less.
Slk. 1807 Hogg Mountain Bard 18:
Ye's nauther get lodging nor fall frae me.
Sc. 1826 Scott Journal (4 Feb.):
As the boatswain said, one can't dance always nowther.
Gsw. 1868 J. Young Poems 15:
Whether to class't mule, naig or cuddy; Or, aiblins, nouther o' the three.
Knr. 1891 H. Haliburton Ochil Idylls 26:
The mune, sair burden'd wi' a broch, Shaws nouther face nor form.
Hdg. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 250:
And e'en I did sae — you may bet! I spared nowther grub nor tod!

[This form seems to have been restricted to Sc. and n.Eng. from the 16th c.; O.E. nowðer. < ne + ō + hwœðer, whether, of which neither is a variant.]

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