A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1473-1496, 1556-1686
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Milk kow, n. Also: mylk and kw, plur. ky(e, kay, kuy, kyn(e, kowes, coues; milkow. [e.m.E. milk-cowe (1606), mylke-kyne pl. (1535).] A milch-cow.(1) 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 173.
Hauand fredom of pastur to ij milk ky 1496 Acts Lords of Council II. 20. 1556 Reg. Cupar A. II. 261.1558 Protocol Book of Gilbert Grote (S.R.S.) 31. 1595 Brechin Testaments I. 132 b.
Ane milk kow with ane calf at hir fit 1605 Criminal Trials II. 478. 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 556.
Pryce of ane milkow with hir follower, tuentie-tua pundis 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II. ii.
The milk kuy 1675 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 13 May.
Sevin milk kay and followers 1685 Old Ross-shire I 169.
Nyne milk kowes 1686 Depred. Clan Campbell 68.
6 great milk coues(2) a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1057.
Lowd in lone was never a gude milk kw 1650 Brechin Presb. 40.
That shee had a good milk kow
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"Milk Kow n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/milk_kow>
