Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Crawdoun, n. Also: crawdown, -done, craudo(u)ne; cradoun(e, -done. [Northern Eng. dial. crawdon, -en and craddon. -an, -en, etc., e.m.E. craddon (1571). ME. crathon, -an and (?) crathoun, -un, of obscure origin.] A craven, a coward. Also attrib. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 76.
Cukcald cradoun, cowart, and commoun theif Ib. 129.
Commirwald crawdoun Id. Tua Mar. W. 215.
Sic a craudoune, but curage Ib. 326.
I crew abone that craudone Id. lx. 22.
Crawdones, couhirttis, and theiffis of kynd 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 119.
Becum thow cowart, crawdoun recryand 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xv. 23.
I think it wold make our craw-down fedrum fal