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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wow, v. Also: vow, wowe, wou, wooe. P.p. also woed. [ME and e.m.E. wowe(n (Ancr. R.), wouwe(n (Manning), wooe (1580), OE woᵹian.]See Ow v.¹ for further examples.

1. tr. To woo, court, solicit the affections of (another). Also proverb. and fig. Chiefly used of a man to a woman.pres. a1500 Henr. Bludy Serk 78.
Tak ȝe my sark … First think on it and syne on me Quhen men cumis ȝow to wow 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6851.
Huredome was first in plane Syne gredynes but lane to wow the woman a1568 Jok & Jynny 1.
Robeyns Jok come to wow our Jynny a1585 Maitl. Q. 254/32.
Sum will say I wes bot blunt Till wow a wedow in sic wys 1603 Philotus 37.
Come ȝe to wow our lasse(b) 1652 Watson's Coll. iii 105/162.
Then comes the sutor with his last, Minds by her foot to wooe her(c) 1698 Fam. Innes 22.
The earle sent over his brother to vow the lady for him, but she preferred Williamp.t. c1420 Wynt. ii 344.
Sayd Joseph wald haffe lyne hyr by, Qwhare to [scho] wowyt [C. wowit] hym besely c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 41/17.
Quod he, My hairt, sweit as the hunny, Sen that I born wes of my mynny, I wowit nevir ane uder bot ȝow 15.. King Berdok 14.
He wes ane stalwart man of hairt and hand He wowit the golk sevin ȝeir of Marylandp.p. a1500 Henr. Bludy Serk 105.
The lady was wowd but scho said nayproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1156.
Manie came to wow my dochter, but they sped riddin roughfig. 1562-3 Winȝet I 74/10.
That sum men and women professing monastik lyfe, and wouing virginitie, may efter mary but brik of conscience

b. To beg, entreat (another) to do something. 1668–76 Lauder Jrnl. 213.
Sir John Nisbet … who faintly refusing, thinking theirby to have bein more woed, he was taken at his word

2. intr. or absol. To woo, court. Also proverb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 200/44.
Religious men of divers placis Cumis thair to wow and se fair facis 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 298.
Our awin natyve byrd, gentill dow, Syngand in hyr kynd, ‘I come hydder to wow’ a1570-86 Maitl. F. 244/6.
Ewill is the wyff that I haue tane For thy to ȝow I mak my mane Ȝe tak gude tent quhair that ȝe wow 1593 Maxwell Mem. II 168.
It is a grit disgrace for ane gentill woman to wowe and than be disapoyntit 1603 Philotus 259.
Sa busilie as sho is wowaneproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 168.
Better wooe over midding nor over mosse a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 715.
Quha may wooe but cost a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1669.
Wow over mure, bot wed over middin

3. tr. To covet, seek to gain possession of (a thing). a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 140 (Wr.).
I woo'd his wings. ‘What would thou give, my heart,’ quoth he, ‘To have these wanton wings to flee?’