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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.

Flow, v. Also: flo(u. [ME. flow(e, flowen, OE. flówan.]

1. intr. Of water or other liquids: To flow. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 32.
Youtheid, Of quhome the blude is flowing in ane rage c1515 Asl. MS. I. 303/24.
Out of the well callit Eden flowis four fludis a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 340.
The fontayne … Quhenit was purify it with frost, and flowit cleir 1513 Doug. vii. i. 12.
The flude … Of Tybir flowand soft and esely 1533 Boece iv. iv. 130 b.
The grete occiane flowit bludy rede a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxxviii. 17.
As furious fludis with gritter force ay flowis

b. Of the tide: To flow landward; to rise. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 160/28.
Thar is sum rever … that neuer ebbis nor flowis as dois the occeane c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 17.
Quhill the Greik sie flowis and ebbis, Telȝouris will nevir be trew 1597 Prestwick B. Rec. 83.
As the bosum of the sie flowis & ebbis to the landis

2. In figurative uses; esp. const. in, fra.(1) ?1438 Alex. i. 488.
I sit all armit on my steid, Richt freshely flowand in my weid Ib. 2496. c1460 Wisd. Sol. 395.
Now wyll I pas and flow in all welthfulenes & delyt a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 263.
In lak of lawbour we flowe into folye 1533 Bell. Livy I. 14/19.
This … toun of Cere, than flowand in hie prosperitie and riches c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5219.
Throuch his falsheid and craftynes He sall flow in to welthynes 1596 Dalr. I. 40/17.
The lochis … that abundantlie flowis in al kynd of fische(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 47.
My hert … That never mair wald flow nor flickir 1562-3 Winȝet II. 48/15.
Quhais speche … to me apperit … as certane hwnie to hef flowit 1567 G. Ball. 102.
For this the peple dois flow to and fra a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxi. 12.
I flow from houp to feir, from feir till esperance 1585 James VI Ess. 59.
The first lyne flowis weil, and the vther nathing at all(3) a1585 Polwart Flyt. 662 (T).
His surnames … flowis fra tua termes of defame 1597 Skene Verb. S. To Reader.
My doinges, flowand from ane benevolent, and gude mind 1607 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 73.
To offer onie thing flowing fra me to ȝour hienes vew c1650 Spalding II. 95.
Aberdeen, haueing ane subtak flowing fra him

3. tr. To emit by flowing. 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 108.
With fontanis flowing watter cleir and wyne