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.
DOWS, n.pl. In exclam. phr. fair dows!, fair play!Dmf. 1915 D. J. Beattie Oor Gate-en' 55:
Haud on! Fair dows! It's my turn now!
[A s.Sc. variant of Eng. do in fair do, where the diphthong has developed on analogy with dow, Doo, n. See P.L.D. § 101.]