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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

S(c)haw, S(c)hew, S(c)how, n.² Also: s(c)hawe, s(c)hau; scheu, shewe; schou, sho. [ME and e.m.E. sceu (Cursor M.), schewe (c1320), show (c1550–80); S(c)haw v.]

1. The action or fact of displaying, putting on view or exhibiting something.To give or make … schaw of, to manifest, display.(1) a1605 Birrel Diary 49.
The boy gaif hes maister ane token … be the schaw or waiff of hes hand-curche 1609 Garden Garden 68.
Our profession … Supported is, and borne, with … so small shaw of good and godly fruites(b) 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 574.
Befoir I could be admittit to the quene's presence, or have ony schew of hir favour 1594 Warrender P. (SHS) II 258.
The lorde, quha be his industrie … brought it [sc. the baptism of the prince] to the schew quhilk the schortnes of tyme … culd permitt(2) 1586–7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 167.
My lord Hunsdon … gave litle shawe of any great contentement 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 162.
In the whilk tymes to mak scheu of his knauledge 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 237.
There originall was from the ancient tribe of O-More in Ireland the Irish denomination of Rowallane & Pokellie imposed … by them in thair owne language, making schew for proof thereof

b. To have the schaw of, to resemble, to have the appearance of. 1581 Burne Disput. 123.
Thay … ar bot … apostatis … , and hes na schau of the face of ane kirk c1590 Fowler II 112/30.
He sal find … some other thing to have the shaw of vyce

c. In (outward) schaw, in appearance; superficially; ostensibly.(a) c1590 Fowler I 65/191.
Vnfayithfull fayithe, disloyall lowe and othes bot trew in shaw Ib. II 191/1.
He in outward shaw preasing to draw that [tabernacle] forduart 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 50/6.
Be præsise in effect, but sociall in shau 1606 in Melvill 725.
Finding it in schaw [Bk. Univ. Kirk I 1031, shew] to carie sume appeirance of novatioun in the Discipline of the Kirk(b) 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 35.
And in mair pesiabill array, at leist in schew, thay conuoyit hir to the castel 1600-1610 Melvill 754.
The proceidingis quhairof is in matter and maner, as it wes in schew and toakin for the rest, as followis ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 128.

d. (The) outuart schau (of words), literal meaning. 1581 Burne Disput. 166.
Gif euerie command of God var tayne eftir the outuart schau of the vordis … thair vald monie thingis appeir to be commandit vnfructfullie

2. The external aspect of a person or his behaviour, or of a thing; a surface manifestation (of some quality). 1570 Sat. P. xxii 22.
Ane flattring face with outwart schaw serene c1590 Fowler I 121/83.
Mans mortall lyfe … brawe may seme and long appeir through outward shaw to be a1599 Rollock Wks. II 65.
I pronounce, that in popedom there is but a show of godliness 1600-1610 Melvill 525.
The changeabill glistering shaw of the world 1635 Wodrow in Hay Geneal. 92.
The current show, veine, and straine of my carriage and conversatione

3. An appearance which impresses, or is intended to impress, those who see it; an imposing display. Also, to mak a show of or to do (something).(1) 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 129/1.
Beutie uithout bontie, uelth uithout uisdome [etc.] … are bot faire shauis & the deceatefull masques of infinite miseries 1599 ? Melvill in Rollock Wks. I 293.
He eschewed all schawis and ostentatioun a1599 Rollock Wks. I 406.
Quhat is a hypocrit bot ane fals schaw? 1600-1610 Melvill 254.
The bischopes fear schawes and scheddowes [began] to vanishe and wear away 1637 Fugitive Poetry II xii 2/32.
For shadowes solemne schaws 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 159.
Our fair shows, and the world's glistering lustres … is that wherewith most satisfy themselves 1644 11th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. vi 56.
I desayr not that thair should be anay aydil schouis or seirimonis at my bourial(2) c1650 Spalding I 138.
The marquess … wes evill advysit and counsallit to mak a schow of his strenth and powar(3) 1646 Baillie II 347.
The queen … makes a great deale of show to lift ane army in France c1650 Spalding I 210.
Making schow to enter the water and cum throw the samen

4. Sum, or a certane, schaw (of a specified state, condition, attitude or the like), an appearance which, though in some degree contrived or assumed, is partly genuine. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 84.
Ȝit, that in thay unlawfull weddingis sum schaw of lawfull ordour micht be obseruit, the gudely bandis wer oppinly proclamit Ib.
Thay prouydit ane certane schaw, or disguisit counterfuting of commoun usage 1596 Dalr. I 35/10.
Hauinis … with a certane and gret schawe of magnificence 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 70/4, 5.
Tua sortis of peopill the ane … that are barbarouse & yett mixed uith sum shau of ciuilitie, the other … uithout any sorte or shau of ciuilitie

b. A trace, vestige, mark. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 18.
And as scho did curiously put of the schawis of suspicioun from hirself, sa the executioun of the slauchter scho was content to haue committit to uther 1606 in Melvill 721.
For the remoiving of all eylistis and schaw [Bk. Univ. Kirk I 1028, shew] of divisioun

5. A spectacle, or sight, prepared to entertain a large number of people. b. A public performance for a paying audience. 1600-1610 Melvill 81.
His majestie was in the new innes of the abay, befor the windowes wharof the schow was to be maid 1657 Balfour Ann. II 196.
The cheiffe places … wer sett outt with staitly triumphall arches … and diuersse otheres costly shewesb. 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X 325.
Power … to put up volting roaps within the said [tennis] court for acting his playes and showes for which he hes herby libertie to take from each persone that shall desyre to see the saids playes thrie shilling Scots money Ib.
Shewes

6. A pretended appearance (of a specified feeling, demeanour, etc.) assumed to deceive others; a pretence.(1) 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 538.
A counsale wes convenit … to mak sum schaw of inquisitioun 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 85.
Wer the tydingis pleising or vnpleasing, the captane made a schaw of a stout bragg, for his gaird houses were furnished 1596 Dalr. I 295/10.
Quhairfor this haitred sche coueret with a schaw of luue 1608 Reg. Privy C. VIII 50.
Ane cullourit schaw of obedyence 1614 Bk. Islay 183.
To gif a farder schaw and apperance of the sinceritie … of his proceidingis(b) 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 31/20.
The Deuill will haue his out-warde meanes to be shewes as it were of his doing a1651 Calderwood VII 46.
These vantages gott they by the shew of reconciliatioun(c) 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 134.
And not so muche as ane mynt or show of persute intendit aganis thame c1650 Spalding I 269.
He had neuer mynd to tak the gentilmans hand, … bot onlie maid a schow(2) c1590 Fowler I 150/3.
Fortoun in my losses playes her parte And with dissembled shawes protracts my payne 1603 Philotus 689.
O sex vncertaine … In quhome ane shaw bot na shame sinks, That ane thing sayis and vther thinks(b) a1658 Durham Blessedness Death (1682) 35.
When folk take more pains to … paint their condition over with fair words and shews, then to be reall before God

7. A sight, spectacle. a1605 Montg. Sonn. xii 2.
Can goldin Titan shyning bright at morne, For light of torches, cast a gritter shau?

8. ? A further instance of 7, with reference to the public humiliations offered to Christ on the Cross. 1611-57 Mure Spirituall Hymne 153.
When Thou thy selfe triumphde o're sho's, Nailde to the Crosse, exposde to blo's