Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
‡OWERCROUN, n. Also owre-croon, o'er-. A kind of Mutch worn by married women, having no crown but ending in a peak. Gen. attrib. in comb. owercroun mutch (Bnff. 1880 J. F. S. Gordon Chron. Keith vi.). [′ʌu(ə)rkrun]Abd. 1842 Blackwood's Mag. (March) 298:
The married women wear “the owercroon,” a venerable and homely and ugly cap, ending in a peak on the top of the head.Abd. 1851 W. Anderson Rhymes 90:
Her owre-crown mutch, sae neat an' clean, Proved she a canty quine had been.Bnff. 1903 E.D.D.:
The “heech cawled mutch” was worn on Sundays, the “overcrown mutch” during the week. They disappeared from Cullen thirty years ago. The overcrown mutch was cut so as not to require a crown inserted. It had a seam in the centre which went right over the back. It was in one piece; no bonnet was required. It had borders — the fore part of fine muslin, the edge of fine lace. It came in with three plaits in front of the forehead as far as the hair and over the crown, and fastened at the back with “sma'” ribbon.Bnff. 1933 M. Symon Deveron Days 35:
Her owre-croon mutch aside it sat, Her specs an' sneeshan pen.
