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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Cow, v. Also: cowe, cou, kow. [Later form of Coll v.]

1. tr. To trim or make bare (the head or crown) by cutting the hair short; to cut (one's hair). Also absol. 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. lvi.
Thay had thair hedis ay cowit, as the Spanyeartis usis 1570 Sat. P. xx. 173.
Gar cow his crowne, or put him down 1571 Ib. xxviii. 51.
[I was] lang tyme at the scule … Quhill I was cowit, and cled up lyke ane fule a1605 Montg. Flyt. 453.
They made it like ane scraped swyne; And as they cowd they made it whryne 1603 Philotus lxvii.
Ȝe gar vs trow that all our heids be cowit 1605 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 46.
Gilbert Keyth … anserit, he wald gang to the croce, bot wald not hawe his heid cowit bot according to his accustumed forme 1628 Hist. Dumbarton 42.
To cut and cow her hair, gif need be 1675 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 346.
He … declaired he had bought the same [sword] to kill the compleaner and that he would cow his crowne therwith 1698 Stirling B. Rec. II. 342.
To the officers for standing at the cross tuo hours till Margaret Graham … was cowed in the head Ib. 343.
To the staffman for coweing her

2. To cut (plants, etc.); to cut down. 1549 Compl. 64/26.
Cou thou me the raschis grene 1570 Sat. P. xii. 174.
Mak of the towne, and cow thame downe Now or ȝour curage cule 1591-2 Rob Stene 7.
The flouris we wald wis best to grow, Eftest we vse to cut and cow