Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a hooligan, a thug, a petty criminal; thus fem. var. nedette.

1959		Times 18 Dec. 5/3: He can [...] give gloriously funny imitations of Glasgow charwomen, tram drivers, and neds.
1964		B. Gaston Drifting Death 57: Lomax [...] was a tuppeny-ha’penny little ned, not even attached to one of the big mobs [OED].
1977		D. Powis Signs of Crime 194: Ned, a young Scots hooligan, a member of a Glasgow gang of roughs, not necessarily criminals (used slightly contemptuously).
1996		A. Close Official and Doubtful 45: The spotty neds with their turbo-charged Escorts.
2006		I. Rankin Naming of the Dead (2007) 193: Local troublemakers ready to rumble. [...] Down south, they’d probably be called chavs, but up here were neds. [Ibid.] 486: Sweaty neds and nedettes dancing reels with college Henrys and Henriettas.
2013		T. Black Ringer [ebook] n.p.: ‘Got any jellies, Stauner?’ It’s some wee ned I don’t even know, but he knows my handle.
2020		G. Armstrong Young Team 7: A Berghaus [jacket] [...] the quintessential fashion piece ae the Scottish ned.