A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1400, 1499-1531, 1584-1673
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Callour, Calour, a. Also: caloure, calloure, -owr, -or, caller. [App. a variant of ME. calver, calvur (calwar), applied to salmon.]
1. Of fish, flesh, etc.: Fresh; showing no signs of flabbiness or staleness. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxix. 360.
In the kirkȝard ȝestrewen wes lad Ane Ethiope, & ȝet his flesche Is caloure inucht & als fres a1500 Henr. Fab. 2119.
It is ane syde of salmound, as it wer, And callour, pypand like ane pertrik ee 1513 Doug. vii. xii. 110.
Evir lykis thame to cach and dryve away The recent spreith, and fresch and callour pray 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xliii.
Quhen the salmondis faillis thair loup, thay fall callour in the said caldrounis 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 343.
The heiring to be callour slayne, stif, cleir, and vngilt 1594 Wemyss Corr. 32.
Vennysoun and wyldfoull as it may be haid calloure 1608 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 520.
In the morning ane callour fresch eg with sum cauld meit 1633 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) No. 498.
That ȝow will give ordour that it [venison] may be speidilie carried for keiping it callour and fresche 1656 Nicoll Diary 188.
The West sea hering … continewit fresche, and oppinlie sold very callor, almoist all winter 1666 Ib. 452.
Fresch, callour, and ungouttit herring 1673 Thanes of Cawdor 328.
600 bollis bear good and callor
2. Of air, water, etc.: Fresh and cool. 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 87.
The callour ayr, penetratyve and puyr 1513 Ib. xii. Prol. 91.
For callour humour on the dewy nyght 1587-99 Hume iii. 89.
The riuers fresh, the callor streames, Ou'r rockes can softlie rin 1587-99 Ib. 142.
The callowr wine in caue is sought, Mens brothing breists to cule 1659-60 Hay Diary 29.
A very fair caller day
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"Callour adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/callour>
