The word ‘outwith’

[HBStowe]

Trying to settle an argument with a colleague. He’s English and works in England, I’m Scottish and work in Scotland (in case it’s relevant).

So... do you use / regularly come across the word ‘outwith’? I.e. ‘If you are trying to email me outwith opening hours please use my personal address’.

My colleague says it’s not a real word. I say it definitely is and I encounter it all the time. Is this a thing? Is it a proper word? I notice it’s underlined in red on my phone which doesn’t bode well, but I am absolutely certain I’ve seen this word in use before in other places.

What’s the verdict MN?

It's definitely a word but only in Scotland! I didn't hear it before I started working with Scottish people and ultimately moving here. It's up there with peelywally in the list of excellent words that by rights ought to have spread to the rest of the English speaking world.

I know a couple of Scottish people who use it, I don't think it's odd.

Actually, on reflection, we probably sang without but when I first heard it sung in England , they sang outside a city wall. Philistines!

matthew I’m a lawyer so could well be why I see it lots

Peelywally is a glorious word!

I have only ever heard it from Scottish people. Always thought it was a bit odd.

I'm an English lawyer and see it used at work sometimes.

I love tattie-bogle

It's used quite often on here. I thought it was quite an old-fashioned word.

Oh my God, this drives me bonkers. As a Scot now living in England, I find I occasionally use it to blank looks and claims it's not a real word.

I was docked marks in my master's dissertation (in England) for using a made up word.

It's a bloody word. A good word. As a solicitor in Scotland I used it hundreds of times a day. If you're English and haven't heard it before, how hard can it be to figure out what it means?!

It’s a Scottish word and an excellent one. It’s the opposite of “within”. There is no real English equivalent. I am a Scottish person who has lived in England for 20 years and not a day goes past that I don’t have to stop myself saying it.

It's a perfectly cromulent word, but it makes you sound a bit pretentious

PMSL at someone using the word “cromulent” accusing others of being pretentious.

It’s perfectly normal speech up here and not pretentious in the slightest.

Actually, on reflection, we probably sang without but when I first heard it sung in England , they sang outside a city wall. Philistines!

We sang 'without a city wall' too and I'm in southern England - we did have to have it explained that it meant outside and not that the city didn't have a wall!

I’m in London and I’ve heard it used. My twenty year old dictionary records it as Scottish

I also think ‘outwith’ is more elegant than ‘outside of’ but it might just be familiarity that makes me think that.

I'm English living in England and I use it. I didn't realise other people didn't.

I was married to a Scot though.

I'm English, I use it but always wonder if I'm being pretentious by using it. It is a Scottish word. I like it.

Please don't stop using it @HBStowe! I think we should promote its use even more as it's a pure dead brilliant word!

I think the pretentious comment was intentional irony no?

PMSL at someone using the word “cromulent” accusing others of being pretentious.

You should really Google the word cromulent then

I've come across it in old novels with dialect, same as 'without' meaning outside, e.g. 'without the walls' - and BTW 'outside' is enough - the of is never necessary in U.K. English.

It’s a very useful word. I use it all the time.

Scottish and, possibly Irish..? John Boyne uses it as a malapropism for Auschwitz in 'Boy in the Striped Pyjamas", suggesting it's a word he expects a child to know and sub for a strange /unfamiliar word.

I'm English and I use it! No idea where I picked it up from though, I don't think I've seen anyone else use it...

I would use it rarely, but have used it, and know what it means. I'm English (northerner) for what it's worth.