Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1765-1925
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HOWD, v., n.1 Also houd; ¶haud. Cf. Howder, Howdle, v.1, n. [hʌud]
I. v. 1. tr. and intr. To sway, rock from side to side, bump up and down, wriggle about (Sc. 1808 Jam., houd; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 81; Cai. 1902 E.D.D., howd; Abd., Kcd. 1957); to walk with a rolling gait (†Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Sc. 1765 Trial K. Nairne (Roughead 1926) 103:
Like an old ferry boat houden.Ags. 1794 W. Anderson Piper of Peebles 20:
Auld horny thought to gar him howd Upo' the gallows, for the gowd.Abd. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads I. 281:
They howded her, and they showded her, Till the auld wife gat a fa', fa'.Kcd. 1925 J. J. Kerr W.-L.:
I saw'r howdin' doon the street at a' she cud leg.
Comb. †houdin-tow, a rope for a swing (Mearns 1877 Jam.).
2. To move along while in a sitting position (Lth. 1808 Jam., houd). Cf. Hotch.
3. Ofa vessel afloat: to pitch or toss about, bob up and down (Bwk. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 107; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Kcd. 1957).Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 69:
Then houding owre gaed mony a tub, To cowe the lown.Slk. 1817 Hogg Tales (1874) 150:
They were aye gaun out o' sight an' comin howdin up again.Dmf. 1826 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 106:
The bridal company were met . . . by the coffin, which . . . "came houdin down the water in great haste."Abd. 1887 Bon-Accord (11 June) 12:
The wye that they chielies got on wis something awfu' — makin' the yawlie showd here an' howd there.
II. n. 1. A lurching, rocking movement from side to side, a wriggle, jerk (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.), esp. of the motion of a ship or a rolling gait. Also fig. an unsettling jolt.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherd MS. III. 57:
Ilk ither howd they took to be their last, An' that wou'd them to the sea-bottom cast.Kcd. 1819 J. Burness Plays 292:
Sic shougs an' howds I never got, My life I thought nae worth a groat.Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 56:
Although she travels wi' a sidelins houd, She'll court wi' onie ane for love or goud.Bwk. 1901 Hist. Bwk. Nat. Club XVIII. 131:
"Having a 'howd' round St Abb's"; that is, a sail or row.
2. A sudden gale of wind, a squall (Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 458, haud). Cf. Howder, v.1, 4., n., 3.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 81:
"A howd o' ween raise, an' shook the corn." "The ween got up wee a howd."
