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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Skew, Sqway, n.¹ Also; squaw, squeye. [ME and e.m.E. scuwe (1278), skyve (1288), skewe (1359-60), OF escu, med. L. scutum skew ashlar (1253 in Latham).]

1. The coping of a gable; stone prepared for this purpose. See also thak skew (Thak n. 5 g) and Wyndskew n.1561–2 Edinb. Old Acc. II 153 (see Windo n.). 1682 Peebles B. Rec. II 102.
Whoever casts any faill upon any of the forsaids places reserved bot for walheads and skews [etc]

b. attrib., with peitt: A stone built into the bottom of a gable to support the coping above. 1618 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 121.
For 32 hewin stanes to be corbellis and skew peittis to the heich toofall

2. Appar. a board or beam used in some fashion obliquely or in a sloping location. Also attrib. with board.For this sense and the next ? cf. Skew v. 1635 Musselburgh 146.
vij^c double and single treis and about j^m skewis(b) 1531 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 58.
To the sawaris for xiii draucht sqways for lautht 1531 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 66.
iiij drauchtis of ane cuttit gest in squawis for the forsaidis roundisattrib. 1644 Glasgow Chart. II 623.
Quheras the said James ought to have caried the head of his said vent towards the said compleinars gavill evin up and not to hav troubled the said compleinars vent thairby yet he hes caused fix ane squeye board in the busking of his new vent nerest the said compleinars gavell and vent quhilk causis the drop to fall within the said compleinars vent

3. ? A sloping roof. 1625 Glasgow B. Rec. II 564.
James King … vndertuik … to hald the mylne wattirticht and vphald the wallis and ruif thairof and to mak ane skew abone the mylne-quheillis, and to theik and vphald the same, and to haif ane ingle of collis thairin in tyme of frost … for thowing the yse af the mylne quheillis