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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NESTIE, adj., v. Also nest(e)y, naisty (m.Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick x.). (nestie Sh., Ork., Cai., Bnff., Ags., Edb., Arg., Ayr., Dmf.; naistie Bnff., Abd., Dmf., Rxb. 2000s). Gen.Sc. forms and usages of Eng. nasty. [′nɛste]

I. adj. As in Eng., foul, filthy, offensive.Slk. c.1700 T. Craig-Brown Hist. Slk. (1886) II. 81:
The High Street . . . being always very “nestie throw its not being casaed”.Gall. 1702 Session Bk. Minnigaff (1939) 74:
The deponent heard the said John say filthy nesty bitch.Sc. 1717 D. Lindsay Sermon Synod Lth. 13:
Like a bright Taper in a nesty Candlestick.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 168:
I often had a curiosity to taste the tea, but the water in the cannall, out of which it was filled, looked so naisty, that I durst not venture.Abd. 1865 G. Macdonald Alec Forbes vi.:
I canna bide that Bruce. He's a naisty mean cratur.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 112:
Ye pooshan, nesty, filt'y crater.Fif. 1894 J. W. M'Laren Tibbie and Tam 108:
Tibbie has a nesty habit o' openin' a' his letters.Ayr. 1900 G. Douglas Green Shutters v.:
The “harmless bodies” and the “nesty bodies.”Peb. 1929 Sc. Readings (Paterson) 84:
That impident, nesty bizzom o' a neebour. m.Sc. 1983 Tom Scott in Joy Hendry Chapman 37 62:
Alan Bold convinces me of my wasted anger, my closed mind, that I am a bodie, both harmless and nesty ... wm.Sc. 1986 Robert McLellan in Joy Hendry Chapman 43-4 31:
Ye canna ettle a medicine to dae ye ony guid gin ye dinna fin it nesty to tak. m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 65:
Thir Malebolges gar ye sweit a taet;
nestie, frae Circle Yin tae Circle Nine, Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 42:
Could she nae hae gaen ma an ordinary punnie, like lines, or sums, or missin gym? Bit nae, nae her. Nae Miss McTavish. My ma says Miss McTavish maun ett nesty peels tae mak her sae ill-naturet. Uls. 1997 Belfast Telegraph 11 Oct :
He's becoming a right old Scrooge. And he's developing a very nesty sense of humour. ne.Sc. 1999 Aberdeen Evening Express 20 Sep 17:
Dod! Dinna be sae nesty. ne.Sc. 1999 Aberdeen Evening Express 31 Dec 14:
So here we go rollicking into the new century with wretched mobile phones pressed to our lugs, surfing the ruddy Internet, digital TVs and DVDs, Posh and Becks the most scintillating personalities in the universe and, Lordie, Cliff Richard still going strong. Naisty times. Stop the Millennium, I want to get off.

Deriv.: nestiness, filth, ordure.Inv. 1714 Trans. Inv. Scientif. Soc. II. 214:
Cleaning and keeping the streets and lanes or common vennels of the burgh free from muck, filth, dunghill, and other nestiness whatsoever.Gsw. 1718 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1909) 5:
No uschawes nor trypes be browght to the mercats uncleansed, nor any lights, livers or uthers be thrown doun in the mercats, nor any nestiness found therin.

II. v. tr. To make nasty or dirty, befoul (Ags. 1964). Also refl. Also in Eng. dials.; intr. to commit a nuisance (Id.).Edb. 1707 Town Council Order (2 May):
That each Family shall be poynded for their Children or Servants that Nests [sic] the Streets, Turnpicks or Stairs, Closses or Vennels of the City in 4sh Scots, when any Complaint shall be made.Sc. 1728 T. Boston Works (1853) VI. 563:
As willing to be washed as ever child ashamed of his nastying himself is.Bnff. 1749 W. Cramond Ch. Keith 55:
If any person shall be convicted before the session of nastying within the walls of the churchyard.Kcb. 1911 G. M. Gordon Auld Clay Biggin' 106:
Her face fair shinin' wi' soap as was her hair for creesh, nestyin' the blue ribbon wi' whilk it was tied up.