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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

OWERBY, adv., prep., adj. Also owre-, o(u)er-, ovyr-, -bye, overby. [′ʌu(ə)r′bɑe]

I. adv. 1. Over, across at or to a place understood from the context, gen. one at a distance from the speaker, over there (Abd. c.1782 Ellis E.E.P. V. 774; Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.; Uls. 1908 Traynor (1953)). Gen.Sc.; sometimes also = over here, by the speaker, but described from the point of view of the listener or some person in the story.Lnk. 1709 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 63:
The rest came up to that peice of ground called the Hay Know ovyrby.Arg. 1758 Indictment of John McLain:
If the said Hector made any more Noise, he would lodge him over by, pointing to an old ruinous Castle . . . near to his Dwelling-House.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 81:
Quo' she: “Unto the sheal step ye o'er by, An' warm yoursel, till I milk out my ky.”Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck xv.:
Bring me a drink, for I hae seen something o'er-bye an' I'm hardly just mysel'.Sc. 1825 Wilson Foresters (1867) xlviii.:
Come ben, Miss or Mistress — how is your lady ower-by yonder at the hall?Bnff. 1871 Banffshire Jnl. (26 Dec.) 7:
Hist ye ower-bye ti see fat wer daen.Lnl. 1889 Poets Lnl. (Bisset 1896) 197:
Last week our tailyour sent owre-bye Three suits, ane for ilk lad.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Raiders v.:
I think ye mentioned it the last time ye were ower by at Craigdarroch.Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters iv.:
I was taking a dander to the linn owre-bye.Rxb. 1918 Kelso Chron. (29 March) 4:
The tyler, Davie Geggie, him owerby at Chirny.Rs. 1991 Bess Ross Those Other Times 46:
" ... I'll not be able to shift till I'm finished here. I've one or two things to collect from overby yet. ... "

2. Over and done with. The usual expression is ower and by.Edb. 1889 R. F. Hardy Johnnie 179:
It'll be owre-bye in a wee while.

II. prep. Along, towards, in the direction of, near, phs. rather to be construed as two words over by.Edb. 1916 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's iii. 31:
Dinna fash yer hairt anent the camsteerie, An' gang nane ower-by his gate.

III. adj., from I. used attrib.: neighbouring, close-by.Lnk. 1919 G. Rae 'Tween Clyde and Tweed 14:
A Scotsman's hairt to owerby fowk is cheatin', Weel happit lies the manly love inside.