Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†CARDOW, CARDOO, CURDOO, Curdow, Courdow, v. and n. [kɑr′du:, -′dʌu, kʌr′du:, -′dʌu]

1. v. “To mend, to patch, as a taylor” (Tweedd. 1825 Jam.², cardow, curdow); “to sow [sic] in a clumsy manner; a term applied to inferior tailors” (Lth., Tweedd. Ib., curdoo).

Hence cardower, cardooer, curdooer, curdoer, (1) “one who works at any trade within a burgh in which he is not a freeman” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.², curdower; 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.); (2) “a tailor or sempstress, who goes from house to house to mend old clothes” (Ayr. 1825 Jam.², carfower; Rxb. Ib., curdower); (3) “a travelling tinker” (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add., curdooer). (1)Edb. 1758 H. Dalrymples Information for Hairdressers in Edb. 19: 
The Question between the Barbers of Edinburgh and Barbers of Canongate. Unfreemen of Edinburgh, or Curdowers.Gsw. 1794-1800 Incorp. Wrights Gsw. (1880) 29: 
Received fines for cardowing. . . . Expense at sundry times looking after cardowers.(2) Sc. 1837 J. G. Lockhart Life of Scott V. xii.:
The hangings and curtains, too, were chiefly the work of a little hunch-backed tailor . . . one of the race who creep from homestead to homestead . . . in Scottish nomenclature cardooers.(3) Abd. 1928 Q. B. Lane in Abd. Book-Lover VI. No. 1, 13:
Wi' sowderin' bolt, shears, an' fite iron belyve, He shaws that a curdooer's wark's never deen.

2. n. ? One who carries on the profession of tailoring illegally, i.e. in a town of which he is not a freeman, hence a clumsy workman, or the work done by such.Dmf. 1795 MS. Accs. Incorp. Tailors Dmf. (28 July):
Spent in the search of 2 Cardoos . . 1/-.Ib. (2 Nov.):
Spent at the taking of Selkirk's Courdow. 1/-. To the officer and party . . . 1/-.