Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1820-1883
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NIGH, adv., adj. As in Eng. in combs.: 1. nigh ha(u)n(d), (1) adv., nearly, almost (Sc. 1903 E.D.D.; Uls. 1908 Traynor (1953), Sc. 1914 R. B. Cunninghame-Graham Sc. Stories 62; Bnff., Abd. 1964); scrimply, sparingly. Mainly dial. in Eng.; (2) prep., near, close to; 2. nigh-sighted, short-sighted.1. (1) Slg. 1820 Trials for High Treason (1825) I. 165:
Nigh-hand between a quarter and half-a-mile.Abd. 1865 G. Macdonald Alec Forbes vi.:
The bairnie micht amaist — no freely but nigh-han' — be broucht up upo' that.Gsw. 1865 J. Young Homely Pictures 11:
Owre [her] deep furrowed broo Hae sped, nigh-haun, four-score-an'-ten O' towmonts auld and new.Fif. 1872 Mrs Cupples Tappy's Chicks 42:
Davie proudly said, "the gun was nigh-hand fu'."Sc. 1883 Stevenson Treasure Island xvi.:
He came nigh-hand fainting, doctor, when he heard the cry.(2) Slg. 1820 Trials for High Treason (1825) I. 166:
They were all standing, pretty nigh-hand to one another.Cai. 1869 M. M'Lennan Peasant Life 272:
I can haud nae langer frae ma bairn an' her nigh han' me in distress.2. Sc. 1858 D. Webster Sc. Haggis 147:
The halfpenny, which Willie held close to his eyes, being nigh-sighted.
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"Nigh adv., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/nigh>
