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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

CHOW, n.² Also chew.

†1. The game of shinty. Cf. Chaw, n.⁴Mry. after 1750 Pluscarden MS.:
At eel they played at the chow.Mry. 1840 Lintie o' Moray (1887) 90: 
Many a game at "chow" In former days was seen, Sir!Abd. 1890 Sc. N. & Q. (Ser. 1) IV. 26: 
In the lower part of Buchan Shinty was known as The Cutty Sow, often as the Chew or Chow.

2. The wooden ball used in the game of shinty, or “in a game like shinty played on the sands at Sandend mostly at ‘Auld Eel'” (Bnff.⁹ c.1927).Mry., Bnff. 1825 Jam.²:
After the chow is struck off by one party, the aim of the other is to strike it back, that it may not reach the . . . goal on their side.Bnff.⁶ 1914:
Be sure an fess yer chow wi ye fin ye come back fae yer denner.

3. “A big lump or mass of something, turf, etc.; e.g. ‘a yarfa [peat] chow'” (Ork. 1929 Marw.). [tʃɔu (Marw.)]

4. “The roundish end of the carn tangle [q.v.]” (Mry.⁴ 1932).

5. “A bullet-head” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff., Add. 219; Bnff. 1898 E.D.D.).

6. The game of golf (Abd. (Bch. coast) 1965).