Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HECH-HOW, n. Also -howe, hi-how. [′hɛç(h)ʌu]

1. The common hemlock, Conium maculatum (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl., 259); 2. the hemlock water dropwort, Oenanthe crocata (Wgt. 1887 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 21; Arg. 1936 L. McInnes Dial. S. Kintyre 8, Arg. 1956); 3. hedge parsley or hemlock chervil, Torilis anthriscus.3. Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.:
Children also make “scouts” i.e. squirts, of the stem of this plant [hedge parsley]. An instrument for producing a noise is also made. Could this sound have originated the curious name? A correspondent says: “When we were wee fellows we used to make horns of the hi-how.”Dmf. 1941 Dmf. & Gall. Standard (30 July):
Hech-howe is the ordinary chervil or hedge-parsley of the roadsides.