hard by meaning (dated): definition, quotations

hard by

adv

Dated nearby; in close proximity.

He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
So the Comptroller and I thence to a tavern hard by, and there did agree upon drawing up some letters to be sent to all the pursers and Clerks of the Cheques to make up their accounts.1660 March 3 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “February 23rd, 1659–1660”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume I, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1893, →OCLC, page 339:

3 more examples

After we had dispatched our compliments to each other, and I had awkwardly returned in country scrapes his a la mode bows and cringes, he needs must prevail with me to join him at a tavern hard by and dine with some gentlemen of his acquaintance.1698, Ned Ward, The London Spy:
So I took a great dry gourd and, cutting open the head, scooped out the inside and cleaned it; after which I gathered grapes from a vine which grew hard by and squeezed them into the gourd, till it was full of the juice. Then I stopped up the mouth and set in the sun, where I left it for some days, until it became strong wine; and every day I used to drink of it, to comfort and sustain me under my fatigues with that from froward and obstinate fiend; and as often as I drank myself drunk, I forgot my troubles and took new heart.1885–1888, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, now Entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night […], Shammar edition, volume (please specify the volume), [London]: […] Burton Club […], →OCLC:
The pond was another favourite place to visit. Moorhens strutted from the neighbouring bushes, and a bevy of Muscovy ducks, a study in black, white and red, waddled from the farmyard hard by to enjoy a refreshing splash.1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 217:

prep

Dated Close to; near; in proximity to; next to.

He was laid to rest hard by the same church where he was once baptised.
In a bar hard by P. P. Layouts, Richard Hnatt sat sipping a Tequila Sour.1964, Philip K. Dick, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch:

1 more example

“Where did your, er, journey begin?” “Hard by the farm at Hexwood.”1970, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 107: