Glossary of Scottish Dialect : N

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These definitions are taken from the “Glossary of Scottish Dialect” from The Harvard Classics volume 6, “The Poems and Songs of Robert Burns,” 1909. The volume is in the public domain. Aside from their inherent interest, they are valuable to anyone reading the work of Burns.


Na, nae, no, not.
Naething, naithing, nothing.
Naig, a nag.
Nane, none.
Nappy, ale, liquor.
Natch, a notching implement; abuse.
Neebor, neibor, neighbor.
Needna, needn’t.
Neist, next.
Neuk, newk, a nook, a corner.
New-ca’d, newly driven.
Nick (Auld), Nickie-ben, a name of the Devil.
Nick, to sever; to slit; to nail, to seize away.
Nickie-ben, v. Nick.
Nick-nackets, curiosities.
Nicks, cuts; the rings on a cow’s horns.
Nieve, the fist.
Nieve-fu’, fistful.
Niffer, exchange.
Nit, a nut.
No, not.
Nocht, nothing.
Norland, northern.
Nowt, nowte, cattle.

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