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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Drowry, Droury, n.¹ Also: drowrye, -rie, -re, drwry; drouery, drourye, -rie. [ME. drowrye, droury, drurie, druery, -erie, etc., OF. druerie.]

1. Love, affection; love-service. 1375 Barb. viii. 492 (E).
A lady That he luffit per drouery [C. drowry] Ib. 498.
Than mycht he weile ask a lady Hyr amouris and hyr drouery [C. drowry] c1420 Wynt. vi. 181.
Quha that luwe wald per drwry, He suld have chosyn this lady ?1438 Alex. ii. 23.
To translait … Ane romains … Of amourus, armis and of droury Ib. 506; etc.
The douchters of Antigonus, That of amouris and of droury Can speke and spere richt merely

2. A love-token, love-gift. (Cf. lufe-drowrie.) ?1438 Alex. i. 3202.
Vpon his gilt helme, for drowrie, Was put the sleif of ane lady c1460 Thewis Gud Women 75.
Na giftis [to] gif, na drowreis craif, Na bill of amowris to resaif a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 583.
This royall ring, … Quhilk Troylus in drowrie to me send c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 562.
Of thy auld name [Desperance] I thé deprive this hour: To thy drowrie, and callis thé Dalience

3. A beloved person; a sweetheart. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2213.
And thow, fare sister, … Hes thow lemman or droury? a1500 Henr. Fab. 489.
Ȝone wes owr drowrie, and our dayis darling