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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

NAIG, n., v. Also naigg, neg (Rnf. 1877 J. M. Neilson Poems 40); nyag (see P.L.D. § 141.1). Dim. naigie (Ayr. a.1796 Burns Highland Balou ii.; Bnff. 1856 J. Collie Poems 94; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.), -y, nagie (Sc. 1784 Dick o' the Cow in Child Ballads III. 469), neggi. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. nag. [ne:g; Cai., ne.Sc. + njɑ: g]

I. n. 1. A horse of any size or kind. Gen.Sc. Also in n.Eng. dial. In Cai. mainly used by tinkers for their ponies and hence transferred to mean a tinker (Cai. 1962). In Sh. in dim. neggi, as a fisher taboo-name for a horse (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Rxb. 1700 Stitchill Court Bk. (S.H.S.) 145:
The pryce of a naig bought be the defender.Sc. 1745 Scots Mag. (June) 275:
Nor cow, nor stot, nor a' my naigies.Ayr. 1791 Burns Tam o' Shanter 25–6:
Ev'ry naig was ca'd a shoe on, The smith and thee gat roaring fou on.Kcb. 1815 J. Gerrond Poems 142:
So, so, thou braw naigy Pegasus Come gie's a wee hotch on your back.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xxiii.:
A feckless loon . . . had catched twa dragoon naigs, and he could neither gar them hup nor wind.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin ii.:
Ten thoosand legions o' witches . . . mountit on rag-weed naigs.Ags. 1880 Arbroath Guide (30 Oct.) 4:
When tae the fauld the yowes hae won, An, cosy 's steek't ilk joggit naiggie.Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 29:
Weel, gin wusses war nyags beggars wud ride.

Combs.: (1) naig-graith, horse-harness; (2) naig-shanks, in phr. on naig-shanks, on foot, on “shanks' mare.” See also shank's naig s.v. Shank.(1) Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 417:
The saddler . . . wanders from one friend's house in the country to another, and “fettles the naig graith.”(2) Fif. 1862 St Andrews Gazette (5 Dec.):
Sandy gaed spankin' up the brae, an' landed at Anster on naig-shanks safe an' sound.

2. A stallion (Sc. 1825 Jam.).

II. v. With awa': to move like a horse that has a long, quick, steady pace (Fif. 1825 Jam.).