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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

S(c)how, Shuff, Shooue, Schewe, v. Also: schwve; chow. [ME and e.m.E. shufe(n (c1200), scuue(n (c1205), schuue(n (a1225), schouue(n (13th c.), str. v., p.t. also schuft (c1350), p.p. also schowued (14th c.), OE scúfan (scéaf, scufon, scofen). Cf. ON skúfa.]

1. intr. To thrust forcefully onwards, press on; to make one's way forward, or in the direction specified. ?1438 Alex. ii 9036.
Thay put and showit with all thare micht c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 11/126.
Repentence … out at the ȝettis did schow [: Jesu] 1572 Buch. Detect. (1572) Sig. G. ij.
Causes … sic as are able to shooue forwart and to push hedlang a hart for outrage nat able to gouerne it selfe

b. In weakened sense: To move directly towards (to) the place specified. a1500 Colk. Sow i 230.
Schiphirdis schowit to schore And Fergy Flitsy ȝeid befoir a1500 Seven S. 435.
A serpent … to the credill schowit in hy

2. tr. To thrust, or press, (a part of one's body) against (on) another person. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 106.
He schowis [M. chowis] one me his schevill mouth and schedis my lippis

b. To impel, thrust, or push (a person) (in a specified direction). a1568 Bann. MS 77a/40.
Suthle he [sc. Death] will thé schow Vnto the grund a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxi 19.
Reson … Quhy hes thou … [delivered] me vnto this lokman Love Vhose strenth at lenth Sall shuff thé by the skaith 1634 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 20 Nov.
He sau Williame Merchell schwve the said Elspatt Carroch

3. To schow furth (of), to move a boat into the water, or into deeper water, a. By propelling it away from the shore by means of poles or the like wielded by its crew, or b. By pushing it out from the shore.Cf. later Sc. shue ‘to back water in rowing, to row a boat backwards,’ etc. (SND, s.v. Shue v. 2).a. 1513 Doug. v iv 95.
The maryneris … with lang bolmys of tre … Inforcis of to schowyn the schyp to save Ib. vi v 15.
Hym self the cobill dyd with hys bolm furth schow [: fow; Ruddim. schewe, rh. fewe] 1662 Lamont Diary 155.
The boat-men went to shooue off, so that the boat strake wpon a sand bed, after turned ouerb. 1513 Doug. x v 78.
Sche … By hir rycht hand schowys furth the schyp