Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

COUT, Cowt, n. and v. [kʌut]

1. n. A weapon of offence; “generally a string with a mass of knotted cord at end or a ‘bannet' tied closely” (Per. 1910 P. M'O. D. in Scotsman (9 Sept.), cowts); a hard-twisted handkerchief used in the game of “the craw” (see Craw' n.³). Also used attrib.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie's Wallet vii:
The bare-fitted races, the twisted cowt knocks, The clamberin' like goats up the High Castle rocks.Edb. 1898 J. Baillie Walter Crighton 87:
Little pieces of rope . . . were being rolled into hard “couts,” applied with great vigour to the pillars, and then minutely examined, pulled and pinched until they were both hard and tight.

2. v. “To beat, thrash” (E.D.D.).Per. 1898 E.D.D.:
I'll cowt him. Stop it or I'll cowt ye.