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

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

Overthrow, n. Also: ower-, owir- and -thro. [e.m.E. ouerthrow(e (1513): cf. Overthraw and Ourthrow(e.] = Overthraw n.(1) 1572 Reg. Morton I. 76.
Ony sinister meenyng or vndew devise … tending to your vndoeing or ouerthrow 1583 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 633.
To practise … for overthrow of religion be moven of freinds cruppin in court 1611 Crim. Trials III. 162. 1646 Moray Synod 79. c1650 Spalding II. 288.
[They] remanit still in waird to thair vtter overthrow 1685 Boharm Kirk S. 13 Aug.
Ane thanksgiving for the overthrow of Monmouth(b) 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. iii. 15.
Thoght fortoune delyt into my owirthro 1612 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 85.
Tending to the owerthrow of all tred of merchandice 1639 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 166.
To spoill and plunder the toume to the owerthrow and ruine thairof 1636 Ib. 103.(2) 1626 Garden Worthies 44.
For thy countrie thow gave overthrows … combating for thy countries cause a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) 6.
A sore overthrow was given to the Britains c1650 Spalding I. 239.
The Spanȝeard gat heir ane terribill overthrowb. 1613 Guide to St. Andrews (1953) 78.
[The pier and harbour at] the verie point of utter overthrow 1639 Aberd. Council Lett. II. 125.
Prevening the inundatioun of the sey and [its] manassing the owerthrow of the church [at Kirkcudbright]