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.
DROUD, Drowd, n.1 [drʌud]
1. A cod-fish (Ayr. 1825 Jam.2), esp. one of poor quality, “a sickly or spawned cod” (Arg.1 1947, drowd). Also attrib.Ayr. 1821 Galt Ayrsh. Legatees iii.:
Half-a-guinea for a cod's head, and no bigger than the drouds the cadgers bring from Ayr.Ayr. 1885 J. Meikle Yachting Yarns 58:
Shifty, I often think ye hae a heap in you, an' at ither times I think you're as toom as a drowd cod.
2. A useless, slovenly person; “a worthless female” (Ayr. 1825 Jam.2).Ayr. 1821 Galt Ann. Parish xlii.:
His mother, who was by this time a widow woman, did not well know what to do with him, and folk pitied her heavy handful of such a droud.
