Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1821-1952
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SHUE, v., n. Also shu, shoo, shough, schew, show, sue, sju (Jak.), and deriv. forms shew, ¶shoo(e)r, sjuer. [ʃu:]
I. v. 1. tr. and intr. To swing, rock or sway backwards and forwards; also of a child's pastime, to swing or rock on a rope, gate or see-saw (Sc. 1880 Jam., schew; Slg., Fif., Lth., wm., sm. and s.Sc. 1970).Per. 1821 T. Atkinson Three Nights 51:
His auld mither would shu Him a while up and down in a scull.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xxxvi.:
We'll shoo ane anither on a swing.Sc. 1831 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) III. 304:
Shuin his arms up and down as if nursin.Gsw. 1862 J. Gardner Jottiana 29:
Shuin' like a swingin' aik When the wil' tempests owre it break.Lnk. 1880 Clydesdale Readings 119:
She sat shooin' hersel' back an' farrit.Gsw. 1910 H. Maclaine My Frien' 95:
I couldna get used to the shoo, shooin' o' the boat.
Combs.: (1) shooin' dale, a see-saw. See Dale, n.2; (2) shoo dick, the game of see-saw; (3) shoo shuggie, an excl. used in dandling a child. See shuggie-shue s.v. Shog, n., 3. (2).(1) Gsw. 1860 J. Young Poorhouse Lays 207:
Forbye a hobby horse o' chains, An' shooin' dales for younger weans.(2) Edb. 1850 J. Smith Hum. Sc. Stories 9:
The sparrows an' laverocks were playin' at shoo-dick i' the clouds.(3) Sc. 1903 R. Ford Children's Rhymes 24:
Shoo shuggie, owre the glen, Mammie's pet, and daddie's hen.
2. To back water in rowing, to row a boat backwards (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 197; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; I.Sc., Cai. 1970). Freq. in comb. shue inunder, id.Sh. 1846 Fraser's Mag. (Sept.) 334:
The rest of the crew row, stern foremost, and this is andowing or shoughing the boat.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 104:
He cries agen, shoo.Ayr. 1885 J. Meikle Yachting Yarns 48:
We shooed back a stroke.Sh. 1892 Manson's Sh. Almanac:
By da time dat da fort packie wis dune, we haed ta sueinonder.Ork. 1904 Dennison Orcadian Sk. 4:
De meenit ye see me oot o' the boat, shue wi' a' the birr i' your bodies.Uls. 1937 S. MacManus Bold Blades xx.:
They swung her round, by Feargal shewin' on his oar.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen Wi Da Trow 45:
Noo lift your sails half-up da masts, An shoo back, sae dat you mak little wye.
3. In deriv. shoor: to make a pulling or pushing motion, to work (a handle, etc.) to and fro.Sh. 1904 E.D.D.:
Shoor upo da kirn.
II. n. 1. A rocking, to-and-fro motion; a swing or swinging rope, a see-saw (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ayr. 1910).Sh. 1893 Sinclair MS. 12:
As I cam alanxt da Sapie dey wirna sae muckle shoo as I lippen'd.
2. A push, shove, a pushing backwards and forwards.Lnk. 1889 A. G. Murdoch Readings ii. 84:
A tug steamer which flung up some terrible big waves, an' gied us twa-three desperate 'shoos'.Sh. 1900 Shetland News (26 May):
Hit wid a set dee better if doo'd . . . com' an' gien me a shooer.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
Du micht gie's a sjuer upon da kirn.
