A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Scour, v.3 Also: scoure, skour, skowr, scur. [Back formation f. Scurrio(u)r n.] a. tr. To traverse (an extent of land or sea) in search of lurking foes, an enemy, etc.; to search (a place).1456 Hay I 230/11.
Gif a Franche knycht … had runnyn before Bordeaulx to scoure the contree and tak prisouneris c1475 Wall. vii 797 (see scurrio(u)r n. (b)).
Scour 1522 Mar & Kellie MSS 12.
Quhen … the king pas to the park … thair be 6 or 8 horsemen … to scur all places neidfull 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 318.
This fleet … is counted to have come only to have scoured the waters, and to have espied the forces of the Queen of England 1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 554.
Till Captain Andro Monro returned from skowring the fields
b. intr. To scour … about, to go searching over a wide area.c1475 Wall. ix 180.
Skour weyll about for scoukaris in the se
