Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1828, 1922-1951
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INBEARING, ppl.adj. Officious, anxious to ingratiate oneself, obsequious, toadying (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff., Abd., Ags. 1958), often also implying interfering meddlesomeness, forward to the point of rudeness, pushing, intruding (Abd., em.Sc.(a) 1958). Cf. Inhaudin.n.Sc. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads I. 3:
Then out it speaks an auld skipper, An inbearing dog was hee, — Ye've stay'd ower lang in Noroway, Spending your king's monie.Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 60:
Aw wudna hae him, the inbearin' blicker!Abd. 1951 Buchan Observer (15 May):
Those of a more reasonable frame of mind, who were roundly accused of being sleekit, inbearin' breets, sair come at for fear of failing to find a fee.
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"Inbearing ppl. adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/inbearing>
