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.
Lown, Loun, a. Also: lowne, loune; lowin, -yn, louin; (laun); lone. [ON. logn n. calm weather, ODa. loghn n. and adj., Norw. dial. logn adj. calm, still: returning to earlier ON. *lugn n., ON. lygn adj., OSw. lughn (Sw. lugn) n. and adj., ODa. lu(g)n (Da. luun) n. and adj., (whence early ME. lune n. ‘quiet, rest’ (? ), mod. dial. of Cumberl. loond, loom). Also in the mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial. as lown, lownd.]
1. Of the weather, a locality, a stretch of water, or the like: Calm, quiet, still, unruffled. Also adv. or quasi-adv.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 18.
The land lowne was and le, with lyking and luf a1500 Henr. Fab. 1572.
The fair forrest with leuis lowne and le 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 60.
Within the hawyn goith lown [v.rr. loune] but wynd or wall Ib. viii. ii. 49.
The streme … Ane standand stank semyt for tobe Or than a smoith puyl or dub lovn and fair Ib. ix. i. 9.
Ane valle wondyr lovn and law Ib. xii. Prol. 54.
The firmament sereyn, The lowne illumynat ayr 1531 Bell. Boece I. xlii.
Thir salmond … cumis up throw the smal watteris, speciallie quhare the watter is maist schauld and loun 1533 Boece x. iii. 352 b. a1570-86 Maitl. F. lix. 3.
Quhen … all wes lowne befoir wes loude Causit be sylence of the nicht(b) 1456 Hay II. 128/8.
The wyndis ar mare lowin and mare dryand na in winter and hardar 1513 Doug. v. iii. 47.
In the calm or lowyn weddir 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 243.
The nixt day … the lift appering lowyn, but ony dyn or tempest Id. Ib. (1821) Proh. xi.
Louin(2) 1535 Stewart 585.
Betuix twa scheittis thai salit lown and still Ib. 46949.
Syne on the morne the da begout rycht fair, Bayth lowne and still
b. Sheltered. Also the lown (= lee) side.(1) 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 156.
Then sett he to, with saill and ayre, To seik some lowner harbore thayre 1695 Reg. Privy C. in Chambers Domestic Ann. III. 143.
Reed hedges to divide, shelter and lay the ground lown and warm and a greenhouse [etc.](2) 1683 Reid Sc. Gard'ner 95.
Acquaint them [sc. melons] a little with the air by raising the edg of the glasses with a little straw on the laun [1721, lown] side, closing it at night again c1700 M. Bruce
Good News (1708) 12.
See ye not the well-affected people seeking the lee and lowen-side of the house?
2. Of persons, their demeanour or talk, or of circumstances: Calm, gentle, quiet, still.1461 Liber Plusc. 386.
Gudmen ar loune, the wykkyt weill ar kend 1535 Stewart 34955.
War thair sic lawis vsit in thir dais … Men wald be lownar in thair langage far 1533 Boece xiii. vii. 511.
Quhen it was knawin that sic rehers was bot falt and foundit of malice al remanit tranquill & lowne Ib. xv. xiii. 598.
The king defferring thair punsioun heirof all was tranquill and lowne 1635 Dickson Wr. 3.
Faith bids be lowne and quiet; nature says, I must lay it out ere I burst
