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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.

Scour, v.¹ Also: scoure, scowr(e, skour(e, (sourge). [MDu., MLG schûren (mod. Du. schuren, mod. LG schüren), prob. f. OF escurer (mod. F. écurer), prob. f. pop. L. *excurāre (med. L. escurare, scurare) to polish, scour, f. ex- and curāre to take care of (med. L. also = to clean).]

1. tr. To purge (the stomach). Also fig. 1375 Barb. iii 542.
Thai … soucht na nother sals thar-till Bot appetyt … For rycht weill scowyrt war thar stomakys a1585 Polwart Flyt. 232 (T).
Syne … smell ane flour, Thy invart pairtis to purge & scourfig. 1687 Cromartie Corr. 51
(see Keechie).

2. fig. To cleanse oneself or one's conscience (of what is spiritually harmful). a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1219.
That thai suld lyk hym be, that thame-self ofe syne wil scoure a1500 K. Hart. 930.
Heir leif I now my conscience for to scour Off all the wickit roust 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 114.
It cannot be over-well scowred

3. To cleanse by, or as by, washing or flushing with water. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1668.
Wyntir … the waleis mais All wete and scowres all the brais

4. a. To clear (a place) of undesirable persons. b. To clear, or drive, (a person) out of a place.a. 1456 Hay I 62/19.
And … he … put to subjectioun all that kynde of men, and scourit the contree of thame, and destroyit thame halelyb. c1475 Wall. vii 16.
How thai suld tak on hand The rychtwys blud to scowr out off Scotland

5. To scurge, beat. 1513 Doug. vi ix 83.
Tysyphone … hir spedis … Thame to assail, to tor, skurge [Ruthv. skoure] and bete

6. To cleanse (an article) by rubbing it with some detergent substance; to polish. Also fig.(a) 1494 Edinb. Hammermen 7.
For vle doly to scour the hers candill 1560 Rolland Seven S. Schort Schawing 32.
Ga … scour pottis to sum creischie cuik 1624 Brechin Kirk S. 15 June.
And betwixt them keip the kirk clein sweipit, the hearses skourit 1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 3 Oct.
For chack to scoure the siluer pleate(b) 1668 Rec. Old Aberd. I 112.
Ilk inhabitant … sall heave the wynes & casies sourged and made clean anent ther houssesfig. 1581 Sat. P. xliv 196.
Ȝour tungis scedicious and fals hes scourit bene

b. intr. To clean by rubbing or sponging. 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Tergo, terges, to dicht, scowre Ib.
Verro, to spounge, scowre, clenge