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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.

DOW, v.¹, n.¹ Also †dowe. †dou. [dʌu; pa.t. dɔx(t), dʌuxt, dʌud]

I. v. Strong pa.t. do(u)cht, dought, dowcht, daugh(t), dught; rarely weak dowed. The form dow, prop. the pres., is sometimes used as a past. The neg. is commonly formed with -na.

‡1. Also in n.Eng. dial.

(1) To be able; to have the physical strength or means (to do something). Formerly Gen.Sc. but now rare exc. with neg. or poet.Sc. 1701–31 R. Wodrow Analecta (Maitland Club 1842) I. 300:
They are blyth that I dou doe it.Sc. 1724–27 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1733) 9:
Ye's ha'e the wadding dinner free; Troth I dow do na mair.Sc. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 70:
I can dae fat I dow: the men o' the Mearns can dae nae mair. [For another version, see Scott B. Dwarf (1816) ix.]Mry. 1806 J. Cock Simple Strains 116:
Maist wi' mysel' now in a pet, Just as I dought, I took the gate.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 16:
Three fallows . . . On him laid hands, whan he now dow na mair, An' wi' teugh raips they band him hard an' sair.Ags. 1928 A. Gray Gossip 31:
I think o' things that I downa weel forget.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 85:
They're baith but lifeless dowy pools. Dought they compare wi' bonny Tweed?Ayr. 1786 Burns Holy Fair xxvi:
Some swagger hame, the best they dow, Some wait the afternoon.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage, etc. 44:
But when she gat to Gariloup, Her legs they dow nae mair.Dmf. [1777] J. Mayne Siller Gun (1808) 88:
Carts, syne, wi' sic as dughtna gae, Were pang'd till they cou'd ha'd nae mae.s.Sc. 1873 J. Murray D.S.C.S. 217:
Nearly obsolete, used in such phrases as . . “Hey dowchtna reyse,” he could not exert himself so as to rise.

‡(2) To be willing; to have the strength of mind or courage (to do something), to dare (Abd. 1825 Jam.²). Gen. with neg.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 380:
You are one of the tender Gordons, that dow not be hang'd for galing their Neck.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems II. 58:
Yet frae his Hoords he doughtna take As much wou'd buy a Mutton-stake.Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxxix.:
My lady did nae dow to hear muckle about the friends on that side the house.Sc. 1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' the Ling 52:
And, O, the thocht! (Gin he but docht) To smool the tears awa.Abd. 1865 G. Macdonald Alec Forbes xxii.:
The fac' was this: I dochtna bide To hear yer bonnie name.Ags. 1924 A. Gray Any Man's Life 47:
Grite craigs whaur I downa stand.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 46:
But fock can tell, Wha lang and weary bruikt his feid, And doucht nae bell.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake, etc. 20:
But, saut the deil's tail an' ye dow!Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
A downa = I cannot be bothered.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man I. iv.:
Gin ye dought accept o' my father's humble cheer the night.

†2. To be of value, to be worth while.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 277:
Play is good, but Daffin dow not.Ib. 349:
What rake the Fead where the Friendship dow not.Sc. a.1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs (1776) II. 182:
“Ye's get a panfu' of plumpin parrage; . . .” “Ha, ha, how! It's naething that dow, I winna come hame.”

†3. To thrive; to prosper. Common in n.Eng. dial. Ppl.adj. dowing, dowan. vbl.n. dowing.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems 207:
A' Blessings, Ramsay, on thee row, Lang may thou live, and thrive, and dow.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
A dowing bairn, a thriving child. . . . He dows and grows; a phrase applied to a healthy and thriving child.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 6:
Dowing an' growing was the dayly prayer, An' Nory tented was wi' unko' care.Edb. 1822 R. Wilson Poems 62:
Fareweel, dear Pate, weel may ye dow, Wi' purse an' meal-pock never howe!Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 35:
Few dowan chiels alive e'enow.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 138:
That pretty building's storeys five, . . . May all about it dow and thrive.Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 99:
Now lang may ye brook to thrive an' dowe

†II. n. Worth, value.Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry, Gl.:
Nocht o' dow, of no value, or nothing of worth.