Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PLOWD, v., n. Also pl(l)oud; plood; plud (Jak.). [plʌud, plud]
I. v. 1. To walk in a heavy-footed way, as through water or mud, to flounder about as in water (Bwk. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 176), to waddle or plod along (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 130, plloud; Mry. 1930; Cai. 1956); of a horse: to paw the ground (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Also in freq. form plowder, plouder, id. (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bnff. 1966), to paddle around in water (Arg. 1958).Arg. c.1850 in Colville 115:
They love to plouder through the loch.Abd. 1891 G. W. Anderson Strathbogie 94:
I plowdert throw the wimplin' river.Abd. 1922 Weekly Free Press (21 Jan.) 3:
I maun be takin' th' road. That snaw's nae easy t' plowder throu'.Arg. 1930:
Come oot o' the burn there wi yer plooderin an' dinna wat aa yer claes.
2. Fig. To work perseveringly towards some object, to strive, plod, do one's best in a dogged, painstaking way (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), plud; ne.Sc. 1966). Hence pludisome, dogged, persevering, painstaking, plodding (Ib.).
3. To fall heavily, thud down (Mry. 1930).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 130:
He plloudit our o' the green.
II. n. 1. A heavy ungainly carriage or walk, a waddle (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 130; Mry., Bnff. 1966).
2. A heavy fall, a thud, bump (Ib.); a heavy step, an application of pressure.
[A voiced variant of Plowt, Plowter, the d giving intensive force.]
