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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Nebo(u)r, Neybo(u)r, Nybo(u)r, Nibor, n. Also: nebur, -por, neibo(u)r, naibor, neuburg, newbur, ny-, nibur, nyebor, nieber. [ME. neȝe-, negebur (13–14th c., OED.) and cf. late ME. and e.m.E. ney-, neibour, nyebore (14–15th c.); cf. Nechbour and Nichbour.The formal history is like that of hey beside heich (= high), etc.]

1. One's neighbour, in usual modern English senses. = Nichbour n. 1, 3 and 4.(a) 1523–4 Stirling B. Rec. I. 18.
In amerciament for trubling of thair nebouris … throw thair flything(b) 1589 Gray Lett. & P. 177.
A verie dangerous neybour 1607 S. Leith. Rec. 5/1.
They agreit to sit togeither as neybors & gude friendes 1670 Kingarth Par. Rec. 64.
Katrine NcIlmertin her neibor had most vilely … slandered her(c) 1597–8 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II. 355.
Thai vill alleig … that it is for extortion of our neporis or sum gredines of geir(d) 15.. Justiciary Rec. I. 153.
Far aboue the pissence of ony utheris ȝour frindis and nyboris 1584 Grant Chart. 157.
In respek of the invasionis bygane maid to owr said cheif and his freindis be our nybouris a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 85.
Nane was in account bot he that wald ather kill or ryve his nybour 1608 Kinghorn Kirk S. II.
For the stryking his nybour upon the haffat in tyme of preaching c1610 Melville Mem. 285.
And how that he wes thocht bot a beast be other princes nybours 1634 Reid Auchterarder 205.
Affirmeing that they had been bewitched be some evil nyebors 1701 Dunbar Social Life I. 281.
Your sometyme landslord and my nybur has takin his eternall fairweillprov. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 92.
A frawart knave is ane evill nybour

b. Attrib. 1597 Douglas Chart. 314.
His hienes … in repressing the insolent attempts of the bordourers … especially with his nybour cuntrie

2. A (fellow-) inhabitant of a burgh or other community; a member of a community; plur., the citizenry collectively, the community. = Nichbour n. 2.(a) 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 82.
Alexander Fyrsale and the leyff of the neboris of Toop one the ane part Ib.
That the neboris of Toop … sall keyp ther guydis of the grownd of Saba 1519–20 Stirling B. Rec. I. 2.
The commoun seill was granttit to be appendit to ane testimoniall that Thomas Buchane was nebour Ib. 28.
It sould be lesum to ony nebour … to tak the stoufe fra the saidis ragratouris 1534 Wigtown B. Ct. 304 a.
All nebovrris [to] bryng thair mallis with thaim 1556 St. A. Baxter Bks. 7.
Not to take ane prentis … bot ane nebur soun 1565 Peebles B. Rec. I. 300.
Neburis 1566 Ib. 303.
Ony nebur or countre man or woman 1581 Elgin Rec. I. 161.
That the best barkit hyd be sauld to the neboris burgessis and fremen 1611 Crim. Trials III. 195.
Altho many of the neiboures in the toune [Dalkeith] come into his howse to see the dead corpe(b) 1534 Soc. Ant. II. 390.
Schawand that ye [the council of Haddingtonn] haif poindit your nyburs and burgesses for non compeirans to our court 1566 Peebles B. Rec. I. 303.
Thair is neuir ane nibur or vthir that euir complenit … on ony craifftis men of the wobstairis [etc.] 1567 Ib. 306. 1581 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 41.
In respect thai ar … fundin … unprofitabill nieberis of … this burght 1610 Inverurie 195.
And carie the saime furthe to ther nybors taisters to be taistit and valuet(c) 1467 Newburgh B. Ct. 31 a.
Thomas Rogersone accusit Stewine Phylp for the vrangus accusyn off the ballȝe … quhilk swld be cureckit be his neuburgis 1556 St. A. Baxter Bks. 7.
Nor contrat maregis bot vyth newburris barnis of this cite of Sanctandrois(d) 1584 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 101.
The sam day after the creationing of naiboris, the cort fensit againe 1604 Dunferm. Hammermen 47.
The naibors of the burgh quha employ landward smiths to work their wark