A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1400, 1531-1596, 1653-1700
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Forby, adv. and prep. Also: forbay, foreby. [ME. forby, forbi (a 1300).]
1. adv. a. Beyond, past. 1375 Barb. x. 345.
I will let fele of thame pas forby 1375 Ib. xiii. 739 (E).
I lat it schortly pas for by a1400 Legends of the Saints x. 7.
In til a towne he come forby Quare in the tolbuth set Lewy a1400 Ib. xxv. 181.
b. In addition, as well. c 1575 Waus Corr. I. 107.
It is forby the first vrittin ye vrit me 1590 Burel in Watson Collect. ii. 14.
The other burgissis forby Wer cled in thair pontificall
2. prep. In addition to, besides. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 345.
Forby thir thre erllis and lord foresaid thair was xxx knychtis and landit men 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xv.
Forby thir beists I saw anew, Quhois nams befoir I neuir knew 1596 Dalr. II. 235/7.
For by that his palise … war spred and hung with fyne … tapestrie 1653 Brodie Diary 68.
Were it the grossest sin, forby the subtilest sin [etc.] 1700 Misc. Spald. C. III. 183.
That he hes seen 7 or 8 men … foreby women
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"Forby adv., prep.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/forby>
