nain, a. Sc.
(neːn)
Also 5 nan, 6, 8 nane.
[See etym. note to own a.]
(One's) own.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xliii. (Cecilia) 155 Þar is na thing sa suet, think me, as my nan brothire. 1509 in Munim. Univ. Glasguensis (Maitland) 45 Mes of the Requiem..for my faderes saule..and myne nane saule. 1755 R. Forbes Ajax, Shop Bill vii, Fare may be had, for their nain wear, The starkest hose. 1816 Scott Antiq. xxix, A cusin o' his nain—Miss Eveline Neville. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb ii, Ilka ane had their nain. |
Hence nainˈsel', -ˈsell, (one's) own self; her nainsel', a phrase attributed to Highlanders in place of the first personal pronoun, and hence used as a designation for a Highlander.
| c 1700 in Maidment Pasquils (1868) 314 Should..Heaven or Hell Make a man such a fool as forget him nain-sell? 1716 Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 139 It's ower sheap; her nainsel no sell it so sheap. 1786 Har'st Rig lxxxix, Now dances Niel wi' little Nell, And canty Kate with hur nanesell. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xxxiii, Her nainsell will never bid thee less, come by them how she can. |