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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fallow, Falow, v.¹ Also: fallowe, fallou, fallo, falou. [Irreg. var. of Follow v.]

1. intr. To go or come behind or after, in lit. or transferred senses.(a) a1400 Leg. S. ix. 149.
The ferd [thing] that falowis nere thare-by, That he ourcome the feynd vysly a1500 Bernardus 214.
Attende Quhat falowis eftyr or quhat sal be the ende 1521 Grant Chart. 66.
It is appointit … in manner, forme and effecthe as efter falows(b) Brus xii. 190 (C).
I trow that gud ending Sall fallow [E. folow] till our begynnyng 1531 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 362.
The said abbot and convent … ar conntentit that thir sex stairs fallowing be left appin 1561 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 502.
Sche … suld beir the armes … as fallowis, Azur thre beirheidis [etc.] a1568 Scott ii. 161.
Sone doun the bra Sym braid lyk thunder; And bad Will fallow fast 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 22.
Albeit men may erre, ȝit it fallouis not, thay erre actuallie 1641 Acts V. 344/1.
We did offer to your Lordships consideratione the particuleris falloweing 1658 Glasgow Weavers 23.
Thar procuratouris … suscrivit be theim as fallowis att day yeir and place foirsaid(c) 1538 Dunferm. B. Rec. 28.
Betuix this day … and the fest of Sanct Martyn in wintir nixt and immediat falloand 1558 Rentale Dunkeld. 352.
Heirefter fallois the sowmis depursit … in my Lordis effaris

2. tr. To go or come after (a person). Also in transferred uses. Brus vii. 141 (C).
We twa sall fallow [E. folow] ȝow behynd weill neir a1500 Bk. Chess 1308.
To his knychtis neuer mor he said, ‘Go furth’ or ‘go’, bot ‘knychtis, fallow me’ 1513 Doug. ix. i. 48.
So gret takynnys … I sal persew and fallow quhat befaw a1568 Bann. MS. 140 a/13.
Thay fallowit thé with cry and schowt 1580 Cath. Tr. 42/24.
Quhy fallow ye the futestepes of the Donatistes 1609 Hume 176/344.
Tharefore we sould fallow the Fatheris … so far onlie as they fallow Chryst 1615 Highland P. III. 293.
Puting [the rebels] to flight so scattered … as ȝour Lo. hardlie knew quhair to fallow the leadars

3. tr. To pursue at law. Also absol. 1478 Acta Aud. 61/1.
The said Schir William to falou vther persouns for the said somme as it emplesis him 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 2.
Quhar[as] John of Hetoun fallowit a borch apon Andro Fidlaris dochter for the sclander of his wif 1526 Dunferm. B. Rec. 277.
He that was procuratour … for Johne Munteith to persev and fallow be ane breif … in his absens 1557 Inverness B. Rec. I. 10.
Johne Mc Allester Cain is fallowit that wrangusly … he deliueris nocht to John Mc Gillewe iij cheip 1585 Acts III. 401/1.
It sall be lesum to thame to call, fallow, poynd and distrinȝie for the mailles … of the saidis landis