[SOUTH a. 2.] The southern part of any country; the district or region towards the south; spec. of Great Britain (south of the Tweed), of England (south of the Wash), or of Scotland (south of the Forth).
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVI. 77. He schupe for till ta His way toward the south cuntre.
c. 1400. Brut, ccxxviii. 301. In þe same ȝere aboute þe Sowthcuntreys … þere fell … much reyne.
14[?]. Sir Beues (C.), 366. To an erle y schall sende the … In to the sowthe cuntre.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. (1568), 71. The tre whiche we call … in the South countre a quikbeme.
1611. Bible, Joshua xi. 16. Ioshua tooke all that land, the hilles, and all the South countrey.
a. 1784. Dick o’ the Cow, xli. in Child, Ball., III. 466/1. Johnë Armstrong, The prettiest man in the south countrey.
1862. Borrow, Wild Wales, xxvi. I took you for a Cumro of the south country.
b. attrib. (Frequently hyphened.)
1674. Ray, Coll. Eng. Words, 57. South and East Countrey Words.
1801. Farmer’s Mag., Nov., 419. Some South-country farmers have lately settled in the neighbourhood.
1884. Rep. Crofters’ Commission, II. 1230. Crossing Shetland cattle with south country cattle.
