Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

POTTERLOW, n. Also potterllow, -lou; ¶potterlyaag (Abd. 1911 Weekly Jnl. (20 Jan.)). A broken or ruined condition, smithereens, pulp, freq. of food spoilt in cooking. Phr. gane to potterlow, reduced to pulp or fragments, completely spoilt (ne.Sc. 1964); of persons or circumstances: in a ruined condition, “gone to the devil”, to wreck and ruin.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 133:
He's t' potterllow wee drink.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 161:
A'thing his been in a protty-potterlou for them an' a' idder body sin syne.Abd.²⁷ 1950:
A bilet tae potterlow — i.e. to a pulpy, mushy condition, overboiled, e.g. of potatoes.