Language usage question: "outwith"

[steepholm]

I would have done this as a poll, but only have a basic account.

1 a) Are you familiar with the word "outwith"?
b) Do you use it yourself?
c) Does its use strike you as affected when coming from a non-Scot?
d) Do you get the impression that it is increasing in usage outwith Scotland?

2 a) Are you Scottish (or have lived a considerable time there)?
b) Welsh/English/Irish?
c) From outwith the British Isles?

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised that you weren't already familiar with it, but it occurs to me that I first met it in a riding context, especially with regard to jumping. You have to be careful not to overface a young or inexperienced horse, ie you mustn't point them at something too big for their level of skill and training.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I wonder if it's related to the phrase "face down" - as in "He was almost overfaced by the thought of taking on Messi but in the event he faced him down."

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

My immediate thought is that there is no connection, other than that there are a lot of phrases using the word "face", but I am not an expert in these matters. Also I can't find "overface" in any of my dictionaries, which disconcerts me a little after having used the word for so long. Perhaps it counts as a technical term?

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

It does get into the OED, where it's connected with 'outface'.