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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

INOWER, prep., adv., adj. Also Anower, q.v.; in owre (our, o'er), enour, in over (Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 17). [ɪn′ʌuər]

I. prep. 1. In, inside, within (Ork., n. and em.Sc. 1958).Ags. 1822 A. Balfour Farmers' Three Daughters I. 122:
I'm sure I carena though she never set her fit in o'er our door again.Per. 1857 J. Stewart Sketches 97:
[Fire] brunt to an eizel ilka stick In owre the door.Ags. 1882 Brechin Advertiser (12 Sept.) 3:
John an' me wis never inower a cheenge-hoose door.Bnff. 1934 J. M. Caie Kindly North 7:
The youngest still, wi' hingin' heid, in-ower its mither's shawl.

2. Over a fence or boundary into the space within (Ork., n. and em.Sc., Lnk. 1958).Sc. 1711 J. Kirkwood Hist. 27 Gods Lnl. 9:
He alone stood on the Fleshmarket Wall, and gave in over it above 300 Suits of Cloaths, and exceeding much Meat and Drink.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 146:
I careless cry'd, and lap in o'er the Dyke.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb x.:
Gyaun in owre's bed wi's sharnie beets on.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 85:
That's wi' me gyaun inowre Neddrie's park to get a better leuk o' 's corn.

II. adv. Inside, within, usu. with the implication of having surmounted some barrier in order to be so placed, near(er), close(r), in towards (the speaker or the fireside) (Sh., n. and em.Sc., Lnk., Kcb., Rxb. 1958). See also Come, v., II. 10. (10). Also ellipt. = in(to) bed.m.Lth. 1788 J. Macaulay Poems 139:
I was na lang o' gaun in o'er.Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Parings 32:
[She] taks them in-o'er, and warms them weel, An' pits them to their hammock.Peb. c.1860 Sc. Nat. Readings (1914) 169:
An' as he drew inower his seat Her tongue brak ower him like a spate.Lnk. 1881 A. Wardrop J. Mathison's Courtship 49:
Inower man, John, hoo's a' the nicht? Draw close up tae the fire, man.Cai. 1896 J. Horne Canny Countryside 18:
When you chap at a Knockdry door, The welcome you get is, “Come in ower!”Fif. 1897 G. Setoun G. Malcolm i.:
Just wait till I fling your luggage inower.Knr. 1905 H. Haliburton Excursions 5:
A'm gaun in-owre . . . A mun be up the morn at seeven.Bnff. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (19 June) 8:
The watter began t' soosh in ower, an' weesh't awa'.Abd.²⁹ 1954:
“Far's that bairn?” “She's in ower wi' her grandpa!”

III. adj. Bent in the back, round-shouldered and narrow-chested (ne.Sc. 1958).

IV. Phrs.: 1. in ower and out ower, “backwards and forwards; thoroughly” (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.); also used fig.: “violently, despotically and against all opposition” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.). See also Anower; 2. to tak' inowre, (1) to censure, to call to account; (2) to take advantage of, to deceive, cajole, dupe (Abd. 1959). Cf. Aboot, 3. (4) (d).1. Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xxvi.:
The lady carried it in-ower and out-ower wi' her son.2. (1) Sc. 1808 Jam. s.v. Ourtane:
To tak one in our, is still a vulgar phrase, signifying to call one to account, to bring one to a trial, to bring to the bar.(2) Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xliii.:
We've baith been weel aneuch ta'en in-owre wi' that carline o' a wife.