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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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NEWFANGLE, adj., n. Replaced in Eng. by ppl.adj. newfangled, since early 17th c. [nju′fɑŋəl]

I. adj. Of persons: fond of novelty, affecting new ideas and fashions, absorbed in or carried away by some new activity or experience, sometimes in regard to a loveaffair or marriage, newly-engaged in or inexperienced at (Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 77; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.); of things: novel, new-fashioned, in a new guise or situation (Patterson). Hence newfanglet, -fangelt, nyow-fangl'd (Abd. 1928 Wkly. Jnl. (20 Sept.) 6), newfangle(t)ness.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 245:
Wow! ye're newfangle to be seen, In guilded Turky clade, and clean.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. i. ii.:
He may indeed, for ten or fifteen Days, Mak meikle o' ye . . . But soon as his newfangledness is gane, He'll look upon you as his tether stake.Abd. 1754 R. Forbes Jnl. from London 29:
[I] did na' care for bein aur brouden'd upon her at first, for fear she shou'd say that I was new-fangle.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 155:
Newfangle grown wi' new got form, You soar aboon your mither worm.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 60:
I'm some new-fangle o' the trade as yet.Lnk. a.1840 J. G. Wilson Poets and Poetry Scot. 385:
They left the newly-kipp'lt pair, Baith loving an' newfangle That noted night.Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff 181:
A' the new fangleness was workin' off.Abd. 1923 R. L. Cassie Heid or Hert 29:
A wud like tae tell ye aboot . . . a' this newfangletness 'at we see a' wye roon.

II. n. A novelty, innovation (Sh., Ags. 1964). Obs. in Eng. from 17th c.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 212:
Braw days for you, whan fools newfangle fain, Like ither countries better than their ain.Sc. 1835 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) IV. 286:
A new-fangle in their een's but a new-fangle.Sc. 1897 J. Wright Sc. Life 75:
Like mony new-fangles, ye're brisk, New Year!