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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1400, 1460-1533, 1604-1605
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S(c)hore, Schoir, adj. Also: schor. [Late ME (once) shore rugged (15th c.), corresp. to Du. schor (WFris. skor, skoar, NFris. schōr, skor) harsh, rough, steep. Cf. OHG scorro rugged rock, also OE scoren, p.p. of sceran Scher(e v. in scoren clif precipice.] Steep, precipitous; ? rough, jagged. 1375 Barb. x 22.
For a schor crag hey and hydwous Raucht to the se doun fra the pas a1400 Legends of the Saints xvi 989.
The baume That is in the crage sa schore [: before] a1400 Ib. xxix 100. 1460 Hay Alex. 2783.
Thair was ane glen, that was baith deip and wyde, And syne sa how and schore, deip to the ground c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace x 44.
Wallace … Gert set the ground with scharp spykis of burd. Bot ix or x he kest a gait befor, Langis the schauld, maid it bath dep and schor 1513 Doug. x xi 122.
A mekill schip … Hyr wail ionyt til a schor rokis syde 1533 Boece 342b.
In Lorne is ane braid grene feild, hegeit about with schore craggis and montanis a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 296 (L).
The craig was stay and schoir [Wr. stay and shore]
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"Shore adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/schore_adj>
