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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

OWE, ppl.adj. Owing, “due”, in debt to (someone) for (something) (Uls. 1953 Traynor). Gen. (exc. I.) Sc. The Eng. form corresp. to Sc. awe (see Awe, v.2, 2.).Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 27:
I am owe, Sir, many a pound To ither fouk.Abd. 1920:
I'm owe 'im a shillin. He's owe me half a note.

[O.Sc. has aw, in possession of, owning, a.1568, a shortened form of pa.p. āȝen of O.E. āȝan, to owe, found in Eng. till the 16th c., used here in an active sense, like Aicht, 2., variant of aucht, pa.p., owning, in possession of (see Aucht, v.2, 2. and note and Awe, v.1, 2.). The transference of meaning from owning to owing is parallel to that of āȝan > aucht, to possess, and > awe, to owe. See E. Dieth in English Studies XXXVIII. 241.]

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