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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Strow(e, Straw, v. Also: strew, strue. P.p. also strowd, strouit. [ME and e.m.E. strew (a1300), strowe (Chaucer), OE strewian, streowian, streawian, ON strá.]

1. tr. To scatter, spread or sprinkle (things or substances) (chiefly, on or in some surface, liquid, etc.); to lay or throw down (clothes) on the ground. Also in fig. context, and fig.(a) c1460 Consail Vys Man 39.
Strow nocht thi stra in flytaris fyre, For byrnand wordis bettes ire 1513 Doug. xi iii 6.
Tha corpsys ded, quhilkis on the feldis broun Lay strowyt heir and thar, with swerd bet down c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxi 8.
Ful mekile pepile strowit thar clathis in the way 1533 Boece 619b.
Donald come to the streit, strowit and spreid doun the mantill 1610 Burnett Fam. P. 208.
This will heall any sore yf you first strowe in it some powder of rosine a1689 Cleland 100.
To strowe beans on his neighbours stairs, And trouble other men's affairs(b) a1400 Leg. S. xlii 254.
Thane bad he schellis & brynnand cole Straw in the floure, herd to thole 1622-6 Bisset II 261/23.
Ane theif … salhave … melted pik put or layd on his heid, and fedderis or downis strawed and put upoun the samin 1649 Kelso Baillie Ct. 53b.
[To have] noe priviledge of scholeing of muck … except onlie the gathering of dry and louse stray that shall happine be strawed be them 1658 Soc. Ant. IX 50.
[They] had ane pok with som th[ing] in it lyk peas meall, and they strawed it on tuo of Coudon's bairnes 1681 J. Mengies Sermon at the Funeral of Sir A. Fraiser 31.
He would not gather where he did not strawfig. a1624 Edinb. Univ. MS La.ii.319.
In springtyme of our ȝouth we sould the seidis of wertew strue

2. a. To cover (the ground, etc.) with (of) something loosely scattered; to besprinkle. Also in fig. context. b. To cover with (flowers, rushes, etc.).a. (1) 1375 Barb. xiv 304.
Of wapnys armyng & of ded men The feld was haly strowyt [C. strewit] then ?1438 Alex. ii 2171.
Thay … On silkin carpets sat doun ilkane, That strouit war with sindry floures 1513 Doug. vi xv 89.
The purpour flowris I sal skattir and pull, That I may strow [Sm. strow, Ruddim. straw; L. spargam] with sik rewardis at lest, My nevoys sawle 1513 Doug. xi v 21.
With gowlyng and with vocis myserabill; Quhill that of trigland terys lamentabill The feildis strowyt war 1558-66 Knox II 68.
The Frenche … laid thair deid carcassis … alang thair wall … [and] the Quene Regent luikit … and said … I wald that the haill feyldis … war strowit with the same stuiffe 1588 King Cat. 36.
He … hes strowed all our wayes with girnes, to attrape our saules 1587-99 Hume 53/24.
Let all the streets … Be strowd with leaues, … With birks and lawrell 1682 Cloud of Witnesses (1714) 170.
He can straw the cross all with roses(2) 1562-3 Winȝet II 64/21.
[Heretics] knaw thair stink to na man … to be plesand, gif it stewit and reikit out naikit and plane; … thairfor thai strow it ouer, as it war with an odoriferous vnctment of the heuinlie wordb. 1507 Lanark B. Rec. 17.
For medwardis to strow the tolbuth ij d. in the ayr tym 1507 Treas. Acc. III 400.
For rasches to strow the place of Strivelin 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 225.
For bent to strow the chalmeris coft in Gulane xxv s. iiii d. a1540 Freiris Berw. 227 (M).
Sche … strowit the hous so clein That no liknes of feist meit micht be sene

c. transf. and fig. 1375 Barb. xvi 69.
This wes in the moneth off May Quhen … feldis ar strowyt with flouris c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 65.
Fresche May … floure of monethis all … That strowit hath so playnly ouer all With … suete and tender grene, Oure lyf, oure lust, oure gouernoure, oure quene

3. Of a thing: To be spread or scattered upon (the ground). 1513 Doug. viii xii 110.
Befor the altaris eik … The brytnit beistis strowit all the ground

4. Const. down: To lay low, fell (a person). 1513 Doug. xi vii 190.
So that we, dolf of curage as the led, Be not doun strowit in the feildis ded 1513 Doug. xii vi 47.
Down strowand eik vnder fut in the plane Diuers otheris ȝit throwand and half slane