Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

EMBY, adv. I.Sc. variant, due to assimilation, of Sc. Inby, q.v. Usu. in phr. come emby, come further into the house, come indoors (Sh.¹⁰ 1950). Also imby (Marw., Sh.¹⁰ 1950). [′ɛmbi, ′embi, ′ɪmbi]Ork. 1929 Marw.:
“Come thoo emby”, i.e. indoors, near to the fire, away from the door and farther into the house; “Dunno stand there i' the cauld; come emby!”