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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mow, n.² Also: mowe, mou, muow, mu. [Reduced f. Mouth n.For the loss of -th, cf. uncow beside Uncouth.]

The mouth.To shoot out one's mou, ? = to speak up (? out of turn), to interpose an (? interfering or unwelcome) speech or remark.See also Cruke-mow.(1) a1500 K. Hart 955 (M).
Fule hardines beir him this brokin brow … For he hes gottin morsellis on the mow And brocht his maister oft in meikle dout 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 713.
The wyffis of the village cryis with cair Quhen thai persaue ȝour muow ouirthort thar medis 1540 Id. Sat. 140 (B).
I ken be his creische mow [: trow, fow] He hes been at ane feist Ib. 4283.
Gudman, ga play ȝow amang ȝour feiris With mvk vpoun ȝour mow [: sow] 15.. Sym & Bruder 17.
Sen thair bairdis grew on thair mow [: ȝow, bow, trow] Thay saw nevir the kirk within 15.. Wyf Awcht. 75.
Than ben thair come ane gredy sow … And in scho schot hir mekle mow a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxviii. 64.
In cairfull bed … To twitche I doe appeir Now syide now breist now sweit mow redolent Of that sueit bodye deir 1581 Burne Disput. 103 b.
I may spair Vezel, my father, and ȝou, Bot nather Audebert, nor Candidais mu a1585 Polwart Flyt. 789 (T).
Cruik mow [H. mowe], widdiesow, soone bow, or I wand thé Ib. 815.
Knave kend, Christ send euill end on that mow [: kow] 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 76.
Come my dow And let me kiss that weel fourd mow(2) 1659 Blairs P. 162.
I might be this tyme be near the land of kaiks if he had not shot out his mou and said, I I, you most goe to Dijon(3) a1578 Pitsc. II. 86/13.
Tuo great cannonis, Thraw mow and hir marrow 16.. Berw. Nat. C. XXVIII. 100.
[Will Bell, flourished 1578–1623, … was succeeded by a son John, known as] Hingmow

b. Attrib. in mow-claith (= mouth-claith, Mouth n. 8 a.). 1612 Edinb. Test. XLVII. 142 b.
Twa towallis and twa mow claithis