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.
Daw, Da, n.2 [Cf. e.m.E. daw (c 1500), a simpleton.] A lazy person (man or woman); a sloven or slattern.c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 71.
Mony slute daw and slepy duddroun 1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 184.
I will not be a daw, I will not slepe 1563 Ferg. Tracts 21.
To put bothe youre handes to your eares and then to streiche them out as the daw doeth when she raxeth her in the morning a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitl. F. lxxxviii. 55.
Dais thai dispyte, and be ȝe daylie deckit, Persaue, thai say, the papingo that prwnȝeis a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 2 b.
A year a nurish, seven years a da Ib. 8 b.
He that marries a daw, eats meikle dirt
