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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡DOWG, DOUG, n., v. Sc. forms of Eng. dog (Cai.⁷ 1940; e.Rs.¹ 1929; Crm. 1911 N. Watson W.-L.; Bnff.², Abd.², Slg.³ 1940; Bch. (coast) 1891 J. A. Forrest in Trans. Bch. Field Club II. 13–16; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 239; ne.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 28). See also Dog, Dug. [dʌug]

I. n.

1. Sc. forms: Sc. 1826 Scott Woodstock xx.:
“It was with the dowg,” answered the Scotsman drily.Cai. 1934 Caithness Forum in John o' Groat Jnl. (9 Nov.) 6:
Every auld wife they met comin' or goin' they turned her intil a hare 'at 'e souplest doug could never catch.Cai. 1992 James Miller A Fine White Stoor 137:
Where are ye going, dowg? Oh there's somebody coming doon the brae. A lassie.Bnff. 1867 Bnffsh. Jnl. (29 Jan.) 2:
Put out that dowg.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood 181:
Watch them as a dowg watches a ratton.Fif. 1896 D. S. Meldrum Grey Mantle 124:
We'll let sleepin' dowgs lie.Bwk. 1897 R. M. Calder Poems 112:
Close by the heap his dougship lay, Full at his ease.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake, etc. 122:
The sheep-dowg's bark, the bumbee's stang, My only fricht an' care.Kcb. 1893 S. R. Crockett Stickit Minister 92:
There's no a dowg in the Dullarg but she maun clap.s.Sc. 1835–40 J. M. Wilson Tales of the Borders VIII. 173:
Ye have as many dougs, I can tell ye, as ye hae banes to pike.

Hence douget, dogged.Ayr. 1879 R. Adamson Lays 77:
Like ither daft fules, wi dour-douget wills, That wad fain hae the wrang tae be richt.

Phr. and Combs.: 1. as thick as doug-heads, very intimate; used contemptuously; cf. as thick as dogs' heads s.v. Dog, III. 1; 2. dowg's-hatch, a dog's kennel; 3. doughill, a dunghill; 4. doug stones, the spotted orchis, Orchis maculata (Cai. 1911 John o' Groat Jnl. (3 Oct.); cf. dog's dogger s.v. Dog, III. 2. and Eng. dogstones, Orchis.1. Dmb. 1846 W. Cross Disruption xxxiii.:
He's daft aboot her yet, and she's just as daft aboot him. He has grown as thick as doug-heads wi' Stiffriggs her brother.2. Dmf. 1899 J. Shaw in Country Schoolmaster (ed. Wallace) 372:
Wi' skin as broon and rough as felt, In tent like dowg's-hatch, watching dowgs And keelies sneaking roun' their lugs.3. Tyr. 1928 “M. Mulcaghey” Ballymulcaghey (1929) 229:
Sam's woman threw what was left of the fowl out on the doughill.

2. A hook on the chain for drawing up the coal-tub to the surface of a mine. See Dog, n., 1. (3).Lnk. 1875 T. Stewart Doric Rhyme 13:
Before cages were invented, miners brought their basket of coal to the pit-bottom and hung it on a pair of hooks called 'dougs,' attached to a chain used for raising the coal to the surface.

II. v. To draw coal-tubs up the shaft of a coal-mine. See Dog, v., 2. (1).Lnk. 1875 T. Stewart Doric Rhyme 13:
When a miner wishes to ask of another if he has a heavy darg, it is yet a common expression, Hae ye mony tae doug?