adv. and prep., a genitival form of ABOUT used in 5–6; still preserved in certain compound adverbs as HEREABOUTS, THEREABOUTS, WHEREABOUTS, and the obs. THENABOUTS. [prob. of northern origin, with -es for -en, as in northern genitives, plurals, possessive pronouns, and vbl. inflections.]

1

  A.  adv.

2

c. 1450.  Lonelich, Graal, II. 27. In his herte hadde he gret thowht howh this mater abowtes schold ben browht.

3

  B.  prep. 2

4

c. 1450.  Lonelich, Grail, xxv. 215. Al and some abowtes him ganne to drawen.

5

1552–3.  Inv. Church Goods, Stafford, 29. Abouts iiij yeres paste [they] solde xlix shepe & vi kie.

6

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., I. ix. 36. His garment, nought but many ragged clouts … The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts.

7