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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KIOW-OW, v., n. Also kyow(-ow), keo, caew. [′kjʌu(-′ʌu), kjo]

I. v. To talk or act in a trifling manner, to “fiddle about”, caper, play the fool (n.Sc. 1880 Jam.; Kcb.¹⁰ 1941, keo; Kcd., Kcb., Uls. 1960), to enjoy oneself immensely (Wgt. 1959); of children: to act mischievously (Uls. 1930). Hence 1. kiow-owin, tattling, frivolous (Sc. 1902 E.D.D.; Kcd., Ags., Wgt. 1960). 2. kyow-owy, fussy, pottering (Sc. 1902 E.D.D.; Ags. 1960).1. n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
A person who occupies his mind with . . . frivolous matters or conversation, is called a kiow-owin bodie.2. Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums ix.:
Ye're ower kyow-owy, Tammas.

II. n. 1. A piece of futility, a fiasco; a trifle.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) vi.:
Sandy, loonikie, your exyems may do amon' your triangles an' sic like fyke-facks an' kyowows, but they're a' blethers.Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters xxv.:
My God, what a ke-o of my life I've made — that auld trollop for my wife, that sumph for my son, and that dying lassie for my dochter!

2. A trick, ploy, nonsense, carry-on (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Wgt., Kcb., Uls. 1960); a state of (usu. pleasurable) excitement (Kcd. 1960, keo); gen. in pl., silly tattling, trifling discourse, inconsequential matters (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ags. 1960). Also dim. kyowowy (Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) v.).Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) xx.:
She mak's a heap o' din juist aboot twa-three kyowows, noo-an'-than.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 160:
Behave yoursel' noo, Rab Da'yell. D'ye hear! see, quat your kyows.Kcb.¹⁰ 1942:
Dae the job and hae bye wi't an' nane o' yer keos.