Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ho, n. Also: hoo, hoe. [ME. ho (in withouten ho, Chaucer), e.m.E. hoo, ho.] A pause, halt, cessation. Freq. in withoutin or but ho, without pause, steadily.(1) c1420 Wynt. vi. 1378.
‘Gloria Patri et Filio’ The Byschape sayde and thare mad ho a1500 Bk. Chess 329.
Thai stampe, thai dwnt, that he couth haue no ho c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 491.
Na hald agayn, na hoo is at thy hips 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2139.
At ilk ane pant scho lets ane puffe, And hes na ho behind c1590 Fowler I. 120/62.
His gwyde that hes no rest nor ho Ib. 355/32.
Ther harmes haue neuer ho 1597 in Calderwood V. 554.
If they could have keeped anie hoe or measure in their crooked course c1600 Montg. Suppl. 222/4.
Without ȝour mercie, my lyfe can haif no ho 1629 Boyd Last B. 459.
Hauing none hoe in their griefe(2) c1475 Wall. ii. 265.
Scho … led him … Till hyr awin hous with outyn ony hoo Ib. vi. 406.
To the herrold [he] said syne with outyn ho 1535 Stewart 7492.
He … hastelie, withoutin ony ho, … without delay is gone Ib. 13620.
The Albionis … rycht haistelie but ho Ane semble maid 15.. Clar. i. 497.
He … to the erd him drave … but ho Ib. ii. 1017.
They ran at uther sa withoutin ho a1568 Scott xxiv. 15.
Hir Court he[s] jo, … Quhair his hes wo withowttin ho a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxviii. 13.
Mischance me hint but ho a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxiv. 13.
Of ȝou, I trou, wha nou regardeth leist My wo, but ho to slo me