A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1494-1538, 1589-1622
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Ȝo(u)ngfrow, Ȝonf(o)rou, Joungfrow, n. [MDu. joncver, joffrouw, e.mod.Du. jongvrouw (OED), Du. juffer.] A dead-eye, ‘a flattened block, or disc, of wood with holes … to receive the lanyards, but without sheaves [= Schefe n.1 2]'. Bertil Sandahl Middle English Sea Terms III s.v. deadman's eye, see also, yongfrow. 1494 Treasurer's Accounts I 254.
For boltis, chenȝeis, ȝong frowis and collaris, seme and rufe to the bote 1505 Treasurer's Accounts III 86.
Payit to Robert Bertoun for blokkis and brassin schiffis, paralingis and ȝong frowes liij li. 1506–7 Treasurer's Accounts III 298.
Boltis sail cammes, pulleis, ȝong frowis and other graith for the schip of Dunbertane 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VIII 160.
For ȝoungfrowis v s. 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 61a.
For ȝonfrous and chenes and boutis xviii ȝonforous xviii botis xi stane xi lib. 1621–2 Montrose Treas. Acc. MS.
Thrie faldom and ane halff of towis to the joungfrowis [of the wind-mill]
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"ȝongfrow n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/3oungfrow>
