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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quhow, adv. (conj.). Also: quhowe, quhou(e, quho, qwhow, whow, qhow, qhiou; Fow. [ME and e.m.E. quuow (c 1250), quhu (a 1325), whow (c 1394), qwow (Prompt. Parv.), who (1440), also cf. hwu, wu (c 1200), hwou (c 1300), varr. of How adv. ²] How, in various usual senses and applications.As in English, ‘an adverb primarily interrogative, used also in exclamations, and in conjunctive and relative constructions’ (OED).

I. 1. In direct questions, chiefly modifying a verb.

a. In what manner? By what means?In quot. Doug. ix appar. = Quhy adv.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. II 96/17.
And God war nocht quhow suld the man or vthir creaturis be maid, hou suld thai lyfe [etc.]? c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) li 42.
Quhow sall he thame eschew? 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 14.
Of wikkyt grayn quhou sal gude schaif be schorn? Ib. 186.
Of … syk bawdry quhou suld I write Ib. xiii 53. 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 288.
Quhow dar ȝe be so bauld? 1551 Hamilton Cat. 222. 1562-3 Winȝet I 114/2.
Quhow will ȝe defend certane of the nobilis … in Scotland, quha [etc.]? 1571 Sat. P. xxix 27.
Bott quhat … thochte Dauid … Or quhow did he his conscience so sincere cloik or gowne? c1550-c1580 Art of Music 20b.
Quhow is the pwnyt of perfectioune dividit fro the pwnyt of divisione? c1590 Fowler II 109/11.(2) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 1119.
Lord quhow may this be To be ane tratour wald ȝe counsell me? 1559 Elgin Rec. II 74.
Quhow is this that I can not be quhyt of ane mensworne tyke?(3) 1513 Doug. ix iii 40.
Quhou art thou thus agane the fatis amovyt?b. 1513 Doug. iii v 111.
In what condition or state? — Quhou faris the child Ascanyus now of lait?

c. By what name? — 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3067 (B).
Syne I gat, quhow call yeid? ad replicandum Ib. 4276.
Quhow call thay me? … I wat not how thay call my sell 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 128.
He forgets the name. The minister speares, whow call ye it?

d. By what meaning? With what signification? — 1562-3 Winȝet I 125/4.
But quhow wnderstand ȝe it that is writtin Num. 14 … ? Ib. 125/10.
Quhow wnderstand ȝe the grete tribulatioun … that come to Dauid … for his sinnis?

e. Modifying an adverb: To what extent? — c1550-c1580 Art of Music 1.
Quhow monye propir kyndis fallis to music mensurall? Fyvetein a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxiii 1.
Lord God quhowe lang will sic lawe lest Be quhilk sum trewe men ar opprest?

II. 2. In direct exclamations: To what an extent or degree!Modifying a verb or, chiefly, an adj. or adv.(1) 1513 Doug. v xiii 8.
Bot quhen thai moste depart, Lord, quhou thai weip! 1549 Compl. 123/9.
Allace quhou is iustice sa euil trettit(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xxviii 47.
Quhou mastevlyk abowt ȝeid he Ib. xxxiii 4.
Quhou fain wald I descryve perfytt My ladye with the mekle lippis 1513 Doug. i i 60.
Lo quhou gret cure, quhat travell [etc.] … Was to begyn the worthy Romanys blude! Ib. ii i 55.
Quhou gret wodnes is this Ib. iv Prol. 231.
Quhou schort quhile doith hys fals plesance remane Ib. x viii 163. a1538 Abell 94a.
Quhow blind ar thai at lauboris for temporall dignate

III. Used conjunctively, introducing a dependent statement, question or exclamation.

3. Modifying a verb.

a. In what way or manner; by what means.Sometimes ambiguous with e below, to which some of the following instances may properly belong.After verbs of telling, understanding or perceiving, thinking or considering, planning, showing or teaching, asking, etc.Also quhow that.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 509.
Quhow he conuertit wes I sall tell her Ib. xxiv 339.
He … wrat quhou he had left his wyf 1513 Doug. xi vi 94, 97.
Quhat suld I tell of Neoptolemus … Or quhou aganys Idomens … Hys … cuntre dyd rebell … Or quhou [etc.]? 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 171.
To declair … quhow thay ar fallin or casin in this troubill(2) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 1789.
Lordingis ȝe se quhow this was cum and gane 1515 Douglas Corr. 70.
For my wyt kann nocht attayne quhow that may be at this tyme 1552 Corr. M. Lorraine 359.
It is best that nain knaw qwhow thir materis standis a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxiv 43.
I wott nocht quhowe this realm sal rewled be(3) a1500 Henr. Fab. 116 (Makc.).
Bot quhen, or quhow, or quhome by it wes fownd … I set to hald na argument 1490 Irland Mir. II 31/2.
This auld innemy … considerit quhow the first man he had wincust a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 127/5. 1562-3 Winȝet I 50/3.
I began … to merwel … Quhow micht it be that [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 118.
To consult whow the Parliament sould nocht inleak the spirituall esteat 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 93.
Since its inconceivable to think whow Ewe could have born a strong robuste man … in hir womb(4) 1555 Peebles B. Rec. I 218.
To se quhow it may be biggit a1500 Henr. Fab. 965 (Bann.).
[He] can mene With falsheid quhow he mycht him self defend 1597 Aberd. Council Lett. I 67.
And provyde quhow the same salbe put to executioun 1600-1610 Melvill 415.
Plewing alwayes with our hiffers, whow to gett a moderator meit for the purpose(5) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 2059.
This buk schawis … quhow ane prince suld to his pepill him beire c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xlviii 29. 1513 Doug. i Prol. 163.
Me lyst nocht schaw quhou thystory of Dydo Be this Caxtoun is haill pervertit 1533 Gau 8/26.
This first command leris al man … quhou thay sal haiff thayme inuertlie in thair hart to God(6) 1617–21 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. VIII 346.
Being demanded quhow she knew the bairnie wad be ded, ansuered that [etc.] 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 93.(7) 1513 Doug. v xiv 76.
Prince Ene persauyt … Quhou that the schip dyd rok c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1473.
In holy wryte This dulefull storye bene indyte And quhow that Noye gan to reiose Quhen [etc.]

b. Also ellipt., with omission of the remainder of the dependent clause. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 205.
The bairn was hovin and fosterit God wat quhow 1496 Acta Conc. II 27.
And tak ane inquisicione … to inquire quhat possessione Thomas Narne had and broikit in umquhile Wilȝeam of Murrayis tyme of the sade viij akeris of land and how he broikit thame than … and quhow and quhat possessione he had in … his spouse tyme 1535 Stewart 16157.
And schaw to him … gif the king in that battell sould die, And quhen or quhow by strenth or subtilitie c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1471. 1569 Misc. S.T.S. 186.
I know nocht quhome, quhen, quhair and quhow

c. In what condition or state; in what frame of mind or disposition.Cf. 1 b above.(1) c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 112.
And tak exemple quhow I gang 1549 Sel. MSS Q. Mary 52.
Therle … kyndlie askyd whow … his sone dyd(2) a1500 K. Hart 181.
He had thame spy the cais, quhow that it wes Ib. 450. 1513 Doug. i viii 59.
Considir frendly our mater quhou it standis 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 229.
I knaw your grace is … advertist quhow all materis standdis hyr a1578 Pitsc. I 90/18.
And schew him the maner quhow it stuide with his sistir sone Ib. 91/31.
Considderin quhow it stuide betueine thame

d. With what name. — c1552 Lynd. Mon. 737.
Quhow he [Adam] thame namyt ȝitt bene kend And salbe to the warldlis [sic in pr.] end

e. With weakened meaning, introducing indirect statements of fact (virtually = that).(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 42.
In my avisioun … I saw … Quhow he apperit in form of ane dragoun a 1470 Liber Aberbr. II 105.
And in speciale we meyn ws … quhow we ar greitly hurt in our possessionis 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 121.
Thynk quhou that fa is waik and impotent, May venquys nane bot thame lyst be ourcum 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 210.
Quhen his liegis did allege Quhow I his sone had gottin in to plege 1551 Hamilton Cat. 206.
Tak tent … quhow he sais nocht [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I 58/10.
It suld hef bene … mair notifiit … quhow thai still remane preistis 1595 Highland P. I 162.
George Balfoir … schew me qhow the Laird of Caddel wes lyke to decourt me and my freinds 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 2.
Yet I cannot but tell … whow at every vomit … he cried Gods mercy(2) a1400 Leg. S. ii 499.
Considerande quhou that Paul was Gilty c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 2817.
And wrytin on it quhow that Neptalius Was thare first lord a1500 Bk. Chess 777.
& baid him haif in thocht Quhow that his father throw his fals sentens hes lost his hyd c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) lviii 7.
Ȝesterday I did declair Quhow that the seasoun soft and fair Com in als fresche as pako fedder 1549 Compl. 3/5.
That ve maye see perfytlye quhou that ȝour grace takkis pane to duelle in ane straynge cuntre 1571 Sat. P. xxix 2.
Gretly thai maid me wondre Quhow that so grett a gospellar so fellounly could fondre

4. Introducing the topic of an inquiry, dissertation, or the like, or of a part of any of these.Freq., with omission of governing verb. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 4120.
All the tithing Off Duke Bites … And quho the … Lege men … cumin ware Brus i 37 heading (E). 1509 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) II 145.
Gif ony persone bringis hame pusioun and quhow thai ws it 1513 Doug. viii x heading.
Quhou that Venus ontill Eneas brocht The godly armour be Wlcanus wrocht 1533 Gau 12/1, etc. a1538 Abell 8*a.
Marache with the brothirris wyf quhow ma it be 1549 Compl. 28 heading. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2708 heading.
Heir follouis quhov Kyng Nynus beildit … Nyniue 1562-3 Winȝet II 26 heading.
And quhou the inuentaris of this hæresie ar the sones of God a1578 Pitsc. I 26 heading.
Quhou Schir James Steuart and his brother was put in presoune 1622-6 Bisset II 83/20.

5. Modifying an adj. or adv.: To what extent; in what degree. a1400 Leg. S. i 59.
Thane wald he think quhow lethirly That he is master cuth deny 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 1.
Ane enquest to … diliuer quhow mony rodis and quha in stat of thaim … and quhove mony burges … that had maid lawti c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xxxi 21, 22, 23.
To se quhow fair sche couthe depant a wicht, Quhow gud, how noble … Quhow womanly 1513 Doug. ix v 106.
Beheld ȝe nocht … Quhou prowd armour … That Turnus bair? Ib. xi Prol. 111. 1533 Gau 11/6, 7.
Thir ii last commandis leris wsz quhou euil the natur of man is and quhou cleyne we suld be a1538 Abell 55b.
In the yle of Moyn quhilk now the Ynglis men browkis God wait quhow lang 1549 Compl. 32/9.
Ve vait nocht quhat thing the varld is, nor quhou lang it sal indure a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 113/13.
Quhow oft that euer ȝe sal eit of this breid [etc.] … ȝe sal furthschaw [etc.] Ib. 124/13.
Forder thow sal considder quhowe agreable is the doctrine [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I 125/27.
Quhen, quhare, or quhoumekle, … as it plessis his godly fatherheid a1500 Henr. Fab. 1941 (Bann.).
Is na man waitt quhow lang his stait will stand c 1580 Mary in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 9.
God wats qhiou sor I hauue forthocht that [etc.] 1594 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 207 (4 July).
Anent his silver ore, quhair he desyris to knaw the fynes therof and quhow meikle silver it geiffis

IV. Used relatively or correlatively.

6. Introducing a (sometimes, appositive) clause elaborating on a preceding noun: In what way or manner; by what means. Also in weakened sense: That.Also, with a noun as antecedent, and without preceding noun.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxi 418.
Of hyre … quhou scho controvit & gat fra hyme leyf to pase With hyr barnis til Athenas 1490 Irland Mir. I 48/31.
I haue maid thre bukis of the virginale concepcioune of the moder of God, quhou she was consauit without originale syn c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xxxiii 6, 8, 9. 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 123.
I wait the story of Iherom is to ȝou kend Quhou he was dung and beft intill hys sleip 1533 Gau 5/8.
Sine thay suld leir the pater noster quhou thay suld pray richt to God c1540 Lynd. Kitteis Conf. 38.
He speirit mony strange cace, Quhow that my lufe did me inbrace [etc.] 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 70.
[Send] me answer … quhowe the quenis grace is myndyd to yow 1549 Compl. 64/3.
The tail quhou that Iason van the goldin fleice 1562-3 Winȝet I 91 marg.
And nocht to teche the peple gestuiris, quhow thai suld behaif thame 1581 (16..) Bk. Univ. Kirk II 490.
Nor ȝit prescryue ony reull whow it shuld be done 1600-1610 Melvill 414.
Now, the plattes ar leyed whow nan sall have place bot sic as serves for the purpose(2) 1669–72 Lauder Jrnl. 197.
Speaking anent the manner whow … America … may probably be supposed to have bein peopled(3) 1594 Highland P. I 179.
Quhat think ȝe, says he, qhow yor father brother is usit be the Ogilvies

7. Modifying an adj., with concessive force: No matter how, however. Cf. 9 a below. c1475 Wall. i 10.
Our ald ennemys … That neuyr ȝeit to Scotland wald do gud, … Quhow gret kyndnes thar has beyne kyth thaim till

8. a. Correlative to als (sa), modifying an adj. of number or quantity: To what extent; as … (as). 1513 Doug. v Prol. 16.
Quhou mony hedis als feil consatis beyn Ib. ix iii 104.
With als feill virgyne facis vpsprang thai … Quhou mony steill stammyt bargis that ayr Stude by the costis syde Ib. xi xiii 61.
Quhou feill dartis with hir hand kest this maid, Alsmony Troianys ded to grund scho laid 1562-3 Winȝet II 47/4.
And in sa mekle the tentatioun gretar quhow mekle [L. tanto … quanto] he war cunningar quha had errit Ib. 58/14.
Quhou mony iuncturis and membris ar thai of barneis, sa mony ar thai of men c1550-c1580 Art of Music 4b.
Quhilk dois singnifie als mekill of the coip mensurall quhow mekill the valour of the noitt quhairto it has respect dois extend 1584 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. fol. 8b.
Quhow greit as is the magestie of the Lorde As gwid is His mercifull misericorde

b. Correlative to or: Whether. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) xlv 39.
Bot quhow is he content or nocht Deme ȝe abowt in to ȝowr thocht

V. 9. In conjunctival phr. with adj. or adv. a. With concessive force: Quhow … that ever, no matter how; however. Cf. 7 above. a1570-86 Dunb. Maitl. F. i 45.
No gold in kist nor wyne in cowpe [etc.] … May lat me to remembar this Quhowe glaid that euer I dyne or sowpe 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 9/24.
For quhow impropir that euer my language be I am verray excusabill Ib. 28/31.
Quhomekill that euer

b. With temporal force: Quhow oft(en), (that (so) ever, also ever that), whenever, every time that. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 113/13.
Quhow oft that euer ȝe sal eit of this breid … ȝe sal furthschaw the deid of the Lord 1562-3 Winȝet II 42/3.
For quhouoft euir that [L. quotienscumque etenim] ony imitatioun of wthir menis doingis is tane vpon ony [etc.] 1574 Prot. Bk. G. Fyiff 7b.
And quhow often it [money] beis redemit to lay the same new vpone land agane 1617 Urie Baron Ct. 19.
And quhow oft so ewer ather of them … beis schallangit or apprehendit in cutting thairof [they] obleissis thame heirby to pey [etc.]