Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FURROW, n. Sc. usages: the earth turned over in a furrow by the plough. Gen.Sc.; the trench separating ridges in ploughing. See 1776 quot. and Furr. Combs.: ‡furrow-scrat, the edge of the cut made by the plough; †furrow-side, the mould-board of the plough. Cf. Furr, 6. (6).Sc. 1765 A. Dickson Agriculture 194:
It is this casting out of the mold-board that turns the furrow: and it may be cast outward in such a manner, as either to set the furrow upon its side, or turn it quite over on its back.Ib. 199:
Sloping all the way from the land to the furrow-side, so as to form the furrow-side into a sharp edge.Sc. 1776 Kames Gentleman Farmer xix.:
The word furrow is employed to signify not only the hollow made by the plough, but the earth taken out of that hollow, and also the hollow between the ridges.Ayr. 1786 Burns To a Daisy ix.:
Till crush'd beneath the furrow's weight, Shall be thy doom!Dmb. 1794 D. Ure Agric. Dmb. 8:
In this country and neighbourhood, the term furr is used to signify the furrow turned over with the plough, that a distinction may be made between that and the furrow, which separates the ridges from each other.Abd. 1952 Buchan Observer (15 Jan.):
There were no jinks and twitters in the furrow-scrats, to catch the eye of the critic takin' a bit skance up and doon the rig.
