Dictionary of the Scots Language
Dictionar o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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CHOW, n.²

†1. The game of shinty. Cf. Chaw, n.⁴ Mry. after 1750  Pluscarden MS.:
At eel they played at the chow.

2. The wooden ball used in the game of shinty, or “in a game like shinty played on the sands at Sandend mostly at ‘Auld Eel'” (Bnff.⁹ c.1927). Mry. 1825 ,
Jam.²:
After the chow is struck off by one party, the aim of the other is to strike it back, that it may not reach the . . . goal on their side. Bnff. 1914 ⁶ :
Be sure an fess yer chow wi ye fin ye come back fae yer denner.

3. “A big lump or mass of something, turf, etc.; e.g. ‘a yarfa [peat] chow'” (Ork. 1929 Marw.). [tʃɔu (Marw.)]

4. “The roundish end of the carn tangle [q.v.]” (Mry.⁴ 1932).

5. “A bullet-head” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff., Add. 219; Bnff. 1898 E.D.D.).

[O.Sc. has chow, the game of shinty, 1599 (D.O.S.T.).]