nowt meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

nowt

pron

[nɔʊʔ] · [nɒʊʔ]

Etymology Dialectal pronunciation of naught. Akin to West Frisian neat (“nothing”), German nichts (“nothing”).

Northern England Naught, nothing.

Today I have achieved absolutely nowt / In just being out of the house, I've lost out2004, “It Was Supposed to Be So Easy”, in Mike Skinner (lyrics), A Grand Don’t Come For Free, performed by The Streets:

Synonyms: noot

nowt

noun

Etymology Dialectal pronunciation of naught. Akin to West Frisian neat (“nothing”), German nichts (“nothing”).

Northern England Naught, nothing.

Yorkshire A person of no importance; a worthless person; a ne'er-do-well.

Bud yah're a nowt, and it's no use talking - yah'll niver mend o'yer ill ways, but goa raight to t' divil, like yer mother afore ye!1847, Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights:
... and great hectoring nowts like yond' Irish Peter, Helstone's curate.1849, Charlotte Bronte, Shirley:

1 more example

A ornery beggar, a nowt, a rapscallion, a shop egg, a devvle from yed to foot, at some time or other were applied to him.1898, The Cornhill Magazine, volume 78, page 697:

Derived terms: shy bairns get nowt, there's nowt so queer as folk, you don't get owt for nowt

nowt

adv

Etymology Dialectal pronunciation of naught. Akin to West Frisian neat (“nothing”), German nichts (“nothing”).

Northern England Naught, nothing.

Antonyms: owt

nowt

noun

Etymology From Middle English nowte, noute, nawte, naute, borrowed from Old Norse naut, from Proto-Germanic *nautą. Cognate with Old English nēat, English neat.

Northern England, Scotland An ox.

Northern England, Scotland A herd of cattle.

Northern England, Scotland, Figuratively A dumb, crass, or clumsy person, or a person who is difficult or stubborn.

A hunner guineas for the heid o' that nowt Renwick, and him no' sae very far awa' frae your very nose at this meenit.1929, James William Marriott, editor, The Best One-act Plays of 1931, G.G. Harrap, published 1932, page 162:

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