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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.

Dub, n. Also: dowbe, doub(e, dobe. [MLG., LG., and WFris. dobbe.]

1. A small and stagnant pool of water.(a) 1456 Hay II. 139/6.
Wateris of pulis and dubbis ar hate in somer … , for caus thai ryn nocht a1500 Henr. Fab. 1691.
The daillis deip with dubbis drounit is 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 305.
To ij childer that chasit dukis in the dubbis 1513 Doug. viii. ii. 49.
The streme … Ane standand stank semyt for to be, Or than a smoith puyl. or dub lovn and fair 1535 Stewart 51220.
Ane mos [they had] … vpoun the tother syde, With mony dubbis that war bayth deip and wyde a1605 Montg. Flyt. 381 (T).
Draiglit throw dirtie dubbis and dykis 1596 Dalr. I. 44/10.
Moray land … is eivin and plane, without dubis and myres 1632 Lanark B. Rec. 325.
The dub quhilk is the heid of Kingsonesburnes and syke 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. 3.
The great Herculean club Bruis'd Hydra in the Lerne dub 1650 Stirling Ant. IV. 157.
The said Robert … was by himself running through dubs and myrsfig. a1568 Balnavis Bann. MS. 138 a/4.
Repent ȝe sall quhen ȝe ar thrall, Fra tyme that dub be lavit(b) 1558 Inverness B. Rec. I. 16.
Ane roud of land … on the est syd of the Foull Doub, … and Finlay Donaldsonis berne … lyand sydlingis to the said Foull Poull c1590 J. Stewart 72/66.
In doube thow baths quyting the fontane cleir 1588 Cath. Tr. 189.
Romulus the first king of the Romanes ewaniseit at the dowbe of Caprea

b. Without article. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2525.
He … lap ouer leis, and draif throw dub and myre c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 119.
Thre dayis in dub amang the dukis He did with dirt him hyde 1596 Dalr. I. 163/16.
Thay gyue bakis, ouer hil and hoip, … dub and myre, mos and mure

2. A puddle, esp. on a road or street. a1500 Colk. Sow 220.
Thurlgill thrang till a club So fers he flaw in a dub 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 54.
The plane stretis and euery hie way Full of floschis, dubbis, myre, and clay c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 175.
In contempt of the syde taillis, That duddrounis & duntibouris throu the dubbis trailis c1590 J. Stewart 226 § 107.
Louss lecherie … Throch euerie dobe hir blaidit rob did traill 1641 Dunferm. Kirk S. 8.
The kirkyaird being so taine up and sunk with dubbs of water 1662 Highland P. III. 15.
As she went home … she imagined she fell in a dub and was all wett 1675 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 291.
For removeing … the middings, fulȝie. and dubs af of the same [streets]

3. Water from, or of, a pool or puddle. 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. (J).
Casting of petmow & dub in hir hall dur 1567 Inverness B. Rec. I. 157.
He dammys the commond wennall that na man may pas … trocht the samyn for dube and myre to thair kneis