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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.

Scrow, Scrol(l, n.¹ Also: scrowe, skr(r)ow, scraw, scroill, scrole, scrool, skroll, scrowl, scroull, scruoll, schrole, scrolve, (scolle). [ME and e.m.E. scrowe (Ancr. R.), skrow (c1400), skraw (c1460 north.), scrowle (15th c.), e.m.E. scroll (1526), schrowe (a1545), OF escroe, escroue, ON skrá.]

1. A piece of parchment or paper bearing or intended to bear writing. Also, a scrow of request, a petition.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1031.
Ane skrow [Bann. scroll] I fand, and this wes writtin in 1591 Aberd. B. Rec. I Pref. viii.
[There was] na register nor court buik … extant. … Befor this scrowis on parchment contening sum courtis of the burght of Abirdene writin in Latyne all and for ilk yeir ane skrow 1599 Ellon Presb. 25.
Instede off ane buik he haid ane scrow his discipline wes altogidder informall and his proceiding als informallye penned 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 15 May.
The dittayis and dilatiounis aganist Margaret Horniscleuch [etc.] … and thair depositiounes ar contenit in paperis and scrowis 1622-6 Bisset I 127/4.
Na letteres nor summonis suld be … admittit, except the executionis be indorsate on the bak of the same self letteres … and nocht writtin upoun ane skrow or louse paper 1660–1 Aberd. Shore Wk. Acc. 469.
For paper to be bookes and skrowes 1699 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXV 67.
Of scrowes twenty four stone(b) 1483–4 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 49.
The ordour … conforme to the auld actis drawin furth of the approvit scrollis of the auld bukis 1571 A. Hay in Bann. Memor. 210.
Past registeris … salbe at commandement how sone I … mon haue thame copeit out of the buikis, or whair thei ar in scrollis, sall send the scrollis c1590 Fowler I 53/153.
The papers and the scrollis which I haif sperst alwayes With thoughts 1609 Conv. Burghs II 282.
The saidis commissioneris … findis the comptis presentit be him to be verray imperfyte seing thai war in skrollis and nocht in ane buik a1634 Read Buch. 3.
Wnles that whilk is wreatten in ane scroll should conqueir reputation of antiquitie, for that the scroll becoms old and fuistedfig. 1604-31 Craig ii 85.
She … Hath rould my name in scrowls of black disgrace(c) 1627 Glasgow Chart. II 586.
Compt off the guidis inbroch into the River off Clyd … scrawis 3 last, rimis 1600(2) 1596 Dalr. II 397/28.
Tha offir to the quene a scrow of requeist conteining sum poyntes of thair schisme [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II 398/2.
Scho … this scrow or bill of requeist … delyuirit, to be schawin to the counsel quhairon tha suld define

b. Such a piece of parchment or paper bearing a written record of a legal or official transaction or transactions, a document, specif. one drawn up on loose sheets of parchment, etc., freq. prior to its being entered in an official register.(a) 1569 Peebles B. Rec. I 310.
With all vtheris scrowis nocht being registrat in the buikis 1577 Treas. Acc. XIII 169.
All buikis, scrowis, rowis, indentis, agrementis and utheris bandis concerning the said wardanrie 1581 Yester Wr. 228.
Certified transumpt … from the skrowis and prothogall of um. David Kingorne, N.P. 1587 Edinb. Test. XVIII 60b.
Hir saidis executouris … to sicht … the dettis compter buikis obligatiounes writtis and scrowis and to gif vp the just inuentar thairof 1590 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 288.
Thrie boundellis off skrowis and rentallis 1591 Crail B. Ct. MS 20 April.
That thair is certan skrowis in the comoun kist … writtin and subscriweit be vmquhile Jhon Ramsey sumtym clerk off this brught 1591 Digest Justiciary Proc. O 23.
Mr. John Grahame send him ane skrow quhairby he maid the fals skrow 1596 Dalr. II 140/1.
Scrows apnet vp, dittays red 1608 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 1057.
The commissioners … callit to give count of thair haill proceidings … declarit … that the same could not be found … albeit they have made travells … for obtaining of the saids scrowis 1646 Stirling B. Rec. I 190.
Thair last clerkis scrowis and minutes … to be … inventarit 1660 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 15.
I did … drawe up some greivaunces … quiche they wer pleased to keipe amongst ther scrowis 1661 Glasgow B. Rec. II 459.
That the said James might … delyver wp the scrow of the forsaids proces … against any of the petitioners(b) 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 139.
The said Alexander to deliver all his counsall bukis and scrollis concerning the counsall to my lord secretar 1649 Dingwall Presb. 139.
The session book … being requyred nothing … presented bot scroilles, therefor he is ordained to fill up his book 1652 Cullen Kirk S. 18 July.
That the scrolls quherin the processes were … should be produced 1674 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 24 Jan.
Quherof they are also discharged and of all former scrollis formerlie conceived heiranent

c. A document containing a list or tabulation of monetary amounts, prices, etc., an account.Chiefly in Argyll Rentals.(1) 1602 Argyll Acc. 28 Dec.
The scroll delyverit to him with the unlawes 1619 Argyll Rentals I.
To be allowed the comptar as ane pairt of the generall skroll vj^cxix contenaned in his chairge ane scroll subscryved be my lord Innerteill 1645 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 146b.
For collhouers and berirs feis as the pertiklour skrow will bear 1645 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 168b. 1679 Torry Coal & Salt Wks. 78b.
To 25 load coalles … for quhilk I am charged for the full pryce as per scrolls(2) 1617 Argyll Rentals I.
The skrow of the generall comptis of Argyle crop 1616 1622 Argyll Rentals 11 Nov.
Williame Stirling his dischairg of the resaitt of moneyis according to the generall scrolve of the Mertimes compt of Argyll 1622 1623 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 153.
To Robert Dalyell for writting of this compt and the haill scroulles thairof and for paper and ink 1650 Argyll Rentals II 19 March.
This is just a trew skroll of the restis befor wretting restane on the personis beforementionat

d. A draft or copy of a document, letter, etc.There may be some ambiguity with b above. 1591 Digest Justiciary Proc. O 23.
He … speirit at him gif he had ane skrow of ane instrument quhair the tennentis … had renuncit thair rentallis and takis 1638 Johnston Diary I 390.
The scrool of ane protestation quhilk was read foranoon and aprovin 1653 J. Hope Diary (1919) 159.
I immediatlie wroat a letter to the generall … whereof I have a scroll 1655 Johnston Diary III 12.
The Lord assisted M. J. G. … to draw the scroll and brought it about … by al our expectations their receaving the copye of it 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II 363.
Thair was red in counsall the scolle or coppie of ane confirmatioune sent … anent … Puckie Mylne 1660 Wodrow Hist. (1721) I 8.
Some persons were … sent who came upon the meeting when the scrolls and other papers were before them. … Those papers were the first draughts of letters to some brethren [etc.] 1667 Argyll-Lauderdale Lett. 60.
The scroll of the returne being allready drawen, I doute it be much altered 1674 Aberd. Council Lett. V 330.
I have detained the bearer heirof … expecting to get a scroll of the act … to send to you 1674 Aberd. Council Lett. V 357 heading.
Scroll of letters to Mr. James Elphinstone 1675 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 6 Dec.
The scrow of ane bond … being red was approven 1681 Stair Inst. iv xx § 21.
Defenders are allowed to see the scrolls of decreets, and to compare the same with the minutes and to complain … if the clerks do not frame the decreets accordingly 1682 Dunkeld Presb. I 443.
Which day, was given in to the Presbetry the scrols of the appretiation of the minister's manse of Dull

e. Clerk of the litle scrow, a records clerk, ? one concerned with material in documentary form. 1596 Dalr. II 435/16.
James Makgil quha clark is called of the lytle scrow [L. rotulorum … clericus]

f. attrib. or comb. In various of the above senses.Scrow buik, a register or record book, a minute book also containing loose documents, the whole intended later to be entered into a formal register; an official register of persons, taxes, etc.; scroll clerk, the clerk who compiled the scrow buik, q.v.(1) 1580–1 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 556.
Ane minute or scrow buik begynnand in November 1569 1684 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 104.
Scrole books conteineing the names of the wholl inhabitants and ther house maills 1689 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 259.
The reasone why this wes not insert in the scroll book wes becaus ther wes … great disorder in the city 1695 Acts IX 412/2.
Tho there be scroll books and minuts made by the under clerks … yet the forsaid register and locked books were not filled up 1696 Edinb. B. Rec. XII 208.
The scroll books of the Cannogate cess(2) 1634 Cramond Cullen Ann. 38.
Mr. George Duncansone was scroll clerk of Banff and that he was notar publick

2. A piece of writing.Some examples may belong to 1 above. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 26.
Dirtin Dumbar, quhome on blawis thow thy boist, Pretendand thé to wryte sic skaldit skrowis? 1568 Charteris Lyndesay Pref. Adhort. 68.
Considder, In to this scrow, quhat Lyndesay to ȝow cryis 1572 Sat. P. xxxv 5.
Ȝow that doe wryte aganis the Scottis … I ȝow advyise, call in ȝour scroll 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 296.
Sir James Balfoure … gave in a long scrole to the lordis of the articles … that he mycht be restored a1605 Montg. Flyt. 106 (T).
Thy scrowis obscuir ar borrow[it] fra sum buik 1599 Rollock Wks. I 294.
Becaus that his … teiching … may serve as a reull and exemplar … we wer content to tak the scrols quhilk we fand in the hand of sum of his schollers quha wrait at his mouth, quhill he teiched and to give them furth to licht 1604-31 Craig ii 12.
Printing my … lately collected scrowles 1619 Misc. Bann. C. I 204.
The bishop having a lang scroll in his hand, quhilk was my ditta 1622-6 Bisset I 6/28.
He … loissit sum of his skrollis, and paperis quhill he come to France, quhair he … compleitted the said choronologie

b. A letter or missive of some sort. 1642 Thanes of Cawdor 287.
I got in your scrow twa dolloris

3. A list or roll, chiefly of persons.(a) 1596 Dalr. II 23/7.
He was reknet cheif and first of the hail nobilitie of Scotland, and first in the scrow 1596 Dalr. II 196/2.
He labouret to put the Scotis in the skrow of his maist faythful seruandes(b) 1651 Argyll Synod I 220.
Conforme to the scroll under written given in by the committee appointed for that effect(c) 1604-31 Craig v 28.
The schrole of torments which I thole

4. A strip or ribbon of parchment, paper or the like or a representation of this bearing a motto. 1643 Funeral Acc. in Berw. Doc. 1 May.
George Stewart Kintyre pursevant carieing ane scruoll bearing the diton of the armes 1678 Edinb. B. Rec. X 632.
For … painting of 8 banners … with ane scroll contining nisi dominus frustra

5. Damaged skins or scraps of skin used to make glue. 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 215.
Cullouris to … the paintouris … and skrowis with utheris smallis 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 78.
For skrrowes to be glew