Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ABOWING, adv.phr. See quot. and Bowin, n.2 Cf. A, prep.2Ayr. 1866 Trans. Highl. Soc. 84:
The practice of letting the milch cows “abowing” is pretty common throughout Ayrshire, particularly in dairies on a larger scale. This consists in the farmer letting his whole stock of cows . . . to a professed milkman at so much per head per annum.
