Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Overthraw, n. Also: ovir-, ower- and -thrawe, -thrau. [f. Overthraw,v.; corresp. to e.m.E. overthrow(e (1513): cf. Ourthraw and Overthrow.] Overthrow; defeat, discomfiture; destruction, ruin; or an instance of these. b. The destruction or demolition of a building.(1) 1535 Stewart 33625.
Rycht hevelie he buir into his hart The grit ouirthraw and thirling of his ring 1558-66 Knox II. 67.
Quhen sche perceivit the overthraw of us, … sche gaif ane gawfe of lauchter 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 88.
Ouerthraw 1572 Sempill Sat. P. xxx. 110.
I note bot few or nane with sic ouirthraw As only Ruthwen 1582 Declar. Causis 6.
Ouerthrawe c1590 Fowler II. 140/6. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 74/4.
These same infirmities urocht the ouirthrau of the papiste kirke in this cuntrey 1599 Acts IV. 188/2.
The grit skayth and overthraw quhilk this realme hes sustenit in tyme bygane be the los of samony battillis 1600-1610 Melvill 128.
With the utter overthraw of the libertie of Chryst's Kirk 1611 Annandale Corr. 15.
Seiking his ouerthraw and the ruine of his house 1622 Crim. Trials III. 513.
The malicious inflicting … of … diseassis vpone dyuerse persones for thair overthraw and distructioun(b) 1558-66 Knox II. 59.
Swa was not the owerthraw and slawchter of the Frensche sa greit 1567 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lv.
To the euident dangeir … of our native princes lyff and owerthraw … of the nobilitie and haill state of this commoun weill 1594 Acts IV. 58/2.(2) a1578 Pitsc. II. 269/5.
Thair vas ane ovirthraw givin be the King of Spainȝie … aganes the Turkis navie 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Strages, a discomfitour or ouirthraw 1596 Dalr. I. 248/2.
Quhen Eugenie had won sa wicht a victorie with sa litle ane ouirthrawe of his awne c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiii. 99.
Compelling myne be greitt ouerthrawis The sam obey be thair gritt mychtb. 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I. 538.
The horrible crak of the pulder in the owerthraw and raising of the hous 1609 Edgar Hist. Dumfries 153.
At everie tyme of the rysing and swelling of the wattir … the said provost and baillies luikis for the utter overthraw of thair brig