Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CURDOO, CURDOW, v. and n. [kʌr′du, kʌr′dʌu]

1. v. To coo (as a pigeon). Hence fig. to make love (Ayr. 1825 Jam.²). Vbl.n. curdooing.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xi.:
The twasome seemed as if they were curdooin' wi' ane anither.Fif.¹⁰ 1941:
It was eneugh to scunner the cat — the pair o' them curdooin' awa' in the face o' a' the folk!Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Miller of Deanhaugh 300:
He then . . . cur-dooed to the pigeons — and squeaked with the guinea-pigs.Ayr. 1833 Galt Scotch and Yankees in Blackwood's Mag. (Jan.) 99:
But I do not approve of yon curdooing with the lad Tompkins.

2. n. “An imitative term, used to express the cooing of the dove” (Sc. 1825 Jam.²).Slk. 1807 Hogg Mountain Bard 5:
The dow flew east, the dow flew west, The dow flew far ayont the fell . . . But ay she cry'd Cur-dow, cur-dow, An' ruffled a' her feathers fair.