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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MEEDOW, n. Also meeda (Slk. 1899 C. M. Thomson Drummeldale 96), meedie (e.Lth. 1896 J. Kerr Golf Bk. e.Lth. 472; Dmf. 1959); mea(d)die (Edb. 1906 V. Spiganovicz Night Life 12; Knr. 1925 H. Haliburton Horace 216), meddie (e.Lth. 1948 Scots Mag. (June) 167); mödow (Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (5 Jone)), möddoo (Sh. 1956 Shetland News (4 Dec.)), mud(d)ow (Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 128), müddoo (Sh. 1947 New Shetlander No. 1. 9), muudow (Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 111). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. meadow (Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Lnk. 1919 G. Rae Clyde and Tweed 81). [′midə, Sh. ′mødʊ]

1. A stretch of marshy grass-land where the natural coarse grasses are often cut for hay (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc.Bwk. 1809 R. Kerr Agric. Bwk. 28:
In the subsequent report of the county, prepared and published by Mr John Home [1797], the soils and circumstances are thus arranged and estimated: “Meadow, moss, and muir of Lammermoor and Lauderdale, including some arable patches, . . . 99,870 acres”. It may be proper to remark that the term meadow, used by Mr Home, is a provincial name for green bog, or marshy ground, producing coarse grass, mostly composed of rushes and other aquatic plants.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 24:
Sir Jeems ran tae a meedow an' lay doon amang the lang saigs.Uls. 1898 A. M'Ilroy Meetin'-Hoose Green 11:
A child came running up the back street, announcing that he had “seen Loudie up the meedas, near the “horse hole”, wi' his coat an' hat aff, preparin' tae jump in”.

2. Sc. combs.: (1) meadow gowan, see Gowan; (2) meadow-hay, hay made from natural grasses cut on boggy ground (Sc. 1825 Jam.); (3) meadow kerses, the cuckoo flower, Cardamine pratensis (Dmf. 1896 Garden Work CXIV. 111). See Kerse; (4) meadow nuts, the purple marsh cinquefoil, Comarum palustre (Ayr. 1886 B. & H. 330), of which the roots were eaten by children; (5) meadow-queen, the meadow-sweet, Spiraea ulmaria. Cf. Eng. Queen of the Meadow(s), id. Poet.; (6) meadow rocket, the marsh orchis, Orchis latifolia; (7) meadow spink, the ragged robin, Lychnis cuculi (Slg. 1886 B. & H. 330). Eng. has meadow-pink, id., obs.(2) Rnf. 1812 J. Wilson Agric. Rnf. 112:
Meadow-hay . . . is collected in the high and poor districts from bogs or marshy grounds, on which no attempts at cultivation have ever been made.(5) Rnf. 1853 J. Fraser Poetic Chimes 110:
The modest meadow-queen, And lily near the lake.Knr. 1891 H. Haliburton Ochil Idylls 158:
Here a bunchy meadow-queen is Trying through a marsh to flounder.(6) Dmf. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 174:
There are few districts in Scotland which have not their own name to this plant; in Annandale, and by the border, it is meadow rocket.(7) Clc. 1860 J. Crawford Doric Lays 6:
The primrose and the meadow-spink In busky shades reposin'.