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.

KEEOW, v. Also kaae. In arranging fishing lines: “to pass the snood of each over the hook and round the stalk of it to prevent entanglements” (Arg.¹ 1935). Cf. Wor. dial. keow, a twist or hitch in a rope. [ki′ʌu]Sh. 1883 J. R. Tudor Ork. and Sh. 136:
Another gaffs or clips the fish with the huggie-staff, cavils, or unhooks the fish, and kaaes the hooks, that is, inserts the points in the snoodings to prevent their ravelling.