Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NEESTER, v., n. Also (k)neister, ni(e)ster. [′ni(:)stər]

I. v. To creak, squeak, as a rusty hinge or new shoes (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 152, 1887 Jam., kneister, 1914 Angus Gl.; I.Sc. 1964); of a person: to snigger, laugh in a suppressed fashion (Ork. 1887 Jam., 1929 Marw., Ork. 1964). Ppl.adj., vbl.n. neesterin, -an (Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 19), (k)neistering, creaking (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 260:
When I comes t' da door . . . I slips in withoot touchin' her, fir I wis feared fir her neesterin'.Sh. 1906 T. P. Ollason Spindrift 114:
The stairs, neesterin' and groaning, made answer.Sh. 1930 Manson's Almanac 187:
Wi' neisterin buits apon his feet, An' on his heid a tile.Sh. 1957 New Shetlander No. 45. 8:
The key neestered i da padlock.

II. n. A creaking sound (I.Sc. 1964).Ork.¹ 1890:
There is a joke about a girl who asked the shoemaker to “put a pennyworth o' neester” in her boots to make a “braw” noise coming into church.