Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

(Nechbourhede,) Nechtbo(u)r-, Neychbourheid, n. Also: neich-, neighbourhead; and Nechbourret. [Late ME. (Irish) neghborhede (c 1425), e.m.E. neighbourhead (1560). Cf. Nichbourhede and Neborhed.]

1. Friendly relations between neighbours, neighbourly conduct, good conduct within a community of ‘neighbours’; mutual obligations of the members of a community; co-operation between neighbours. = Nichbourhede n. 1–3. 1533–4 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 105.
[To] keip … thair … besteall fray all destroyng and etteyng of thair cornvs and gres in gud nechtbourheid as thai aucht to do 1567 Acts (1597) ii. 17.
Commanding [her subjects] … to keip mututal … loue, friendship & neichbourhead ilke an to vthers 1576 Orkney Oppress. 88.
Quhair as be the auld custume … that for breking of nechtborheid, the haill parrochine … payit fyve gudlingis [etc.] 1602 Grant Chart. 200.
For keiping and interteneying of freindschip, amite, guid neychbourheid 1615 Kirkwall Sheriff Ct. Act Bk. 3.
That good neighbourhead be keipit amongst neighboures in ilk parochine … in [etc.] 1665 Forbes Baron Ct. 258.
In good neighbourheid 1670 Peebles B. Rec. II. 82.
To be good neighbores and keepe good neighbourheid to other 1677 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 30 Nov.
In caice Adam doeth not beir neighbourheid with Andrew to stay and work the land 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. 174 (24 Apr.).
Neighborheid 1696 Ib. 752 (26 Feb.).
[To] bear up good neighbourheid at all work nessisar for manering of the said grownd

2. Those living in a certain district. 1698 Hector Renfrewshire Rec. II. 150.
Sheep bones … and ane nolt head, all which were leatly wanted by the neighbourhead