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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.

Nece, Neice, Neipce, Nice, n. Also: nes, neic, neyce, neise, niece, niepce, niepse, nyce, nis, neec(e. [ME.(1297) and e.m.E. nece, nese, nice, e.m.E. niece, niepce, OF. nece, neice, nice, niepce, niece, (L. neptis grand-daughter).]

1. A female relative. a. A grand-daughter. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 61.
Gif that he has cosingis or than nesis of sone or of dochter 1513 Doug. ii. xii. 47.
I, the neyce of mychty Dardanus And gude douchtyr onto the blyssit Venus 1558–9 Home MSS. 150.
[Mary Hepburn his] nece [daughter of the late Patrick Hepburn his son] 1564 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 483/2.
Margaret Murray, dochter to umquhile Johnne Murray, and nece and apperand air to umquhile James Murray 1578 Douglas of Morton 24. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Eneya.
Ane neipce or maa of ane sonne or dauchter succeedis to their gud-schir or guddame … as thair father or mother suld have done gif they were ȝit living Id. Reg. Maj. i. 34.
Gif ane man deceis without sonne or dochter and hes nephois or niecis of ane sonne or of ane dochter a1651 Calderwood I. 12.
Alexander the Third left no issue behind him, except the daughter of Norway, his neice, by his daughter Margaret

b. A niece. ?1438 Alex. ii. 623.
Fair nece, thow knawis nocht our kynd 1530 Reg. Morton I. i.
That our sister and ȝe thinkis to contract mariage and allia our nece … with Robert Maxwell 1533 Boece iv. v. 131 b.
Praying … his broder he wald … nocht suffir his onelie sister … be … lichtlyit nor his neceis … defoulit be hurdome Ib. v. i. 162 b. c1575 Balfour Pract. 222.
As the nepvoy or neipce 1588 Cath. Tr. 191.
S. Susanna virgin niepce to S.Gaius pape and mart. 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 56.
Heaving lattin ȝou onderstand of ȝour sister and litil niepsis weillfair 1622 Melrose P. 465.
Your honours sistersoonne, having mariit your neipce a1646 Wedderb. Voc. (1709) 8.
Nepos a nephew or oye. Neptis a neice or oyess 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 476.
Lady Elizabeth … being the neece of our King Charles 1651 Edinb. Test. LXV. 209 b.
James, Thomas, David and Issobell Calderwoods his nephewes and nyce 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane II. 254.
Lord Hammiltoune who had to wife his nice or sister daughter 1669 Lamont Diary 212.
Mistress Ann Gibson, Durys nice 1701 Cramond Kirk S. IV. 4 July.
There is one Patrick Steuart come to dwell in Cramond, and a woman which he calles his neice

c. In the following instances the precise relationship is not clear or has not been ascertained but perh. most or all = niece, as sense b. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2092.
Jonas Senescall of Grece Haid made mareage with Cleopatra his nece With Philipis … the King 1539 Ex. Processes MS. (Reg. H.) No. x.
Janet Scot nece air and successatrice of the said vmquhile Walter 1598 Edinb. Test XXXI. 343.
He leuis … to Anna Lyndesay his nece xl li. 1630 Laing MSS. I. 186.
Nis, I heartaly thank you for your letter 1639 Haddington Corr. 173.
My neec Jean 1639 Ib. 177.
Neice 1650 Wemyss Corr. 118.
Your lordships affectionatt neic 1662 Rec. Old Tolbooth in Bk. Old Edinb. C. V. 98.
Margerat Heilleine and Ewphame Inglishes neises to Mr Mathew Mowat 1693 Cromarty Corr. I. 97.
My nice, Barbara Sincler

d. A female relative, less specifically. c1475 Wall. vii. 275.
Der nece, he said Ib. 408.
Fyne cawk eneuch, that his der nece mycht set On ilk ȝeit a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 540.
Thy trew kynnismen, Antenor et Eneas, Throp thy nere nece, and austern Olibrius

2. A nephew; also ? a grandson. ?1438 Alex. ii. 6994.
Said Clarus, Nece, of that seiknes I sall be wareist weill at eis a1500 Lanc. 2198.
Sir Gawan, nece, why dois thow so? Ib. 2243. Ib. 2718.
The king … That of his necis lyf was in disspare 1622-6 Bisset ii. 370/10.
Sanct Fruce oy or nice to King Ewgenius … wes patrone of Piron