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.
NIRT, n., adj. Also nert, nart (Jak.). [nɪrt]
I. n. 1. A fragment, morsel, particle (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Cld. 1880 Jam.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 153; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh., Ork. 1964). Hence nirty, small.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 7:
A nirty coarn o' da smearin gets intill her ee.Ork. 1930:
He hed no a nirt o butter on his bread.
2. Stinginess, niggardliness.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Der' wer' a nirt wi' him.
II. adj. Niggardly, giving scant measure (Jak.).
[Norw. dial. nerta, Sw. dial. narta, to be stingy, give scant measure, Faer. nørtur, a little bit, Icel, nart, a nibble.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Nirt n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/nirt>
