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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dow, n. Also: dowe, dwe, dou. [e.m.E. dow, ME. dowe, doo, duu, variants of douve, duve (c 1200), ON. dúfa.] A dove.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 672.
A quhyt dow was sene Fra the hewine com to that schene Ib. 708. c1420 Wynt. I. 417.
The dow he send furth anys or twyis 14.. Acts I. 386/2.
Pacokis and dowis … are wont to fle of a certane place and to cum again to that samyn place a1500 Bk. Chess 429.
Vnto the famell he kepis his natur As in dowis, sparowis, & vther bestis mo 1513 Doug. ii. ix. 19.
As for the storm dowis flokkis togidder ilkane 1535 Stewart 7576.
Throw Albione … it flaw Ouir all the landis as outher dow or craw 1567–8 Rep. Mar & Kellie MSS. 19.
To my Ladie and hir servandis … on ane flesche day … vj chikkynis or dowis 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 148.
The grit hurt and dampnage done to thair nychtbouris … throuch schuting … of the dowis 1600-1610 Melvill 270.
I haid a pear of fyne milk whait dowes, quhilk I fed in the hous 1662 Melrose R. Rec. II. 28.
For … killing ane great number of … dowes by ane gune 1690 Foulis Acc. Bk. 130.
Thair is got in half a boll of peas for the dowes(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 596.
Than com a dou of hewin fleand Ib. xxxiv. 112.
Hym thocht, he A-beoufe hyme suld a blak dou se 1549 Compl. 39/17.
The dou croutit hyr sad sang that soundit lyik sorrowattrib. 1596 Dalr. II. 389/5.
A hailstane gretter than a dow eg 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 333.
In castellis, stables, dowhouses [etc.]

b. In comparisons or allusive use. 1456 Hay I. 30/17.
As [if] thai war symple as a dow but gall c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 263.
Be dragones baitht and dowis, ay in double forme 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8006.
Becaus thay ar … Quhylis lyke a wylde wolf, quhylis as a dow als tame 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I. 157.
Quhen the master of ane cruel tiger is maid as it war ane dow

c. As a term of commendation or endearment. c1450-2 Howlat 989.
Thus for ane dow of Dunbar drew I this dyte, Dowit with ane Dowglas, and boith war thai dowis a1500 Henr. Fab. 2231.
The caller cryit: ‘how, haik vpon hicht; Hald draucht, my dowis’ c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxiv. 36.
Quhyte dow, quhair is ȝour sobir humilnes? a1568 Scott i. 215.
That thow, sweit dow, may brace Lang space with grace c1600 Montg. Suppl. Misc. P. x. 28.
My dow, be now my comforter