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

[dru-marland.livejournal.com]

I like the word, and would happily use it if I were Scots; but it would feel affected were I to use it as a natal Yorkshirewoman. In fact, I rather like Scottish words generally, and it's quite reassuring that they manage to remain so different.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

a natal Yorkshirewoman

I thought you were from south Wales? Or did you move there young?

[dru-marland.livejournal.com]

Yes, we moved from Yorks v early on.... another Scottish word I like is 'byke' for a wasp nest. And there's a nice short disquisition on the Auld Alliance in the works of Jane Grigson, who contended (possibly mischievously) that when scottish milkmaids called "Proochy moo" to the cattle, they were actually saying "Approachez moi".... oh yes, and partan for crab. We had a book in primary school called Angus the Tartan Partan.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I think you said more or less exactly what I would have said, but I was born and brought up on the other side of the Pennines in Manchester. I know the word, but would feel odd trying to use it when it's not part of my native dialect.

[dru-marland.livejournal.com]

...actually, I'm a cispennine Yorkie; the bit of Saddleworth that saw my nativity got handed over to Lancashire in the reorganisations. How rude is *that*?