Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DREW, n. Also droo, dru. Applied to various species of sea-weed, such as the eel-grass or grass wrack, Zostera marina (Sh. 1845 Edmonston Flora Sh. 15; Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., dru), the sea-lace, Chorda filum (Sh. 1808 Jam.; Ork. 1929 Marw., droo (in some places droor)) and Fucus loreus. [dru:]Sh. 1897 Sh. News (2 Oct.):
Hit [cut oats]'s a' maistly blown ower, an' lyin' as weet as da droo.Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 16:
And the horrent surges raved Over heaps of drifted dru.Ork. 1806 P. Neill Tour 29:
The narrow thong-shaped sea-weed, fucus loreus (here called drew), is abundant on some rocky shores.
