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

Stow, v.¹ Also: stou. P.p. also stowine. [ME and e.m.E. stow(en (14th c.), sto(e (1592), OE stów a place.] For quot. Leg. S. see Stele v. 1 (1) p.p. (c).

1. To put (something) in a place. a1400 Leg. S. xxiii 311.
Stowine 1656 Laing MSS 306.
So ye wold have som closs locket thing to keip my letters in … So stow them in som pok

b. Const. up: To put (a sword) in a sheath. 1456 Hay I 111/19.
God commandit Sanct Petir to stou up his suerd in his furrell

2. To dispose or pack (cargo) in a ship. Also absol. ?14.. Ship Laws c. 7 (B).
The maystyr and the schypmen has stowyt thair wynys as thai aw to do ?14.. Ship Laws c. 7 (B).
Qwhar for thai ar haldyn to luke at thair thyng be … certanly stowyt … befor thai wende oute of the havyn 1537 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 86.
He loissit the pok of forest woll pertening to Mungo Tennend efter that the samyn wes schippit and stowit in his schip c1575 Balfour Pract. 619.
And that thay fuir nor stow ony merchandice upon the over loftis of thair shippis 16.. Admir. Ct. Form 65.
Rummage is … given for stowing of wynes. The mariner who stows it getts fie for it 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I 218.
To tua warkmen to stow the … treis in the said bote xxiiij s. 1619 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 135.
To a man that helped to stow them [sc. joists] in the barkabsol. 1549 Compl. 41/3.
The marynalis ansuert … stou, stou, mak fast & belay 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 9b.
It. for drink siller to … the lafe that stowed

b. intr. Of cargo: To be packed (in a ship.) 1618 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 110.
To Eduard Steuartis tua men for cutting the geistis sent to Lithgow to gar them stow in the bark

3. tr. To put or dispose (persons) in(to) a place. b. specif. In a ship. c1515 Kennedy in Asl. MS II 275/63.
For ws fair lady with the devill thow fechtis … Syne stowis ws saifly in to angellis steid c1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 523.
To sie the people weill stowed in the church … at thair first entring inb. 1610 Crim. Trials III 110.
Masones ship … followes the Copmanhouen ship … takes the wholl equippage oute of her which wer four or fyve persones, and stowes thame in Masones ship 1610 Crim. Trials III 110.
Captane Wilman … took him aganest his will to Norroway and when the pryise wes persewed, stowed him beneth