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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

POOER, n., v. Also pou(e)r (Lnk. 1711 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 105, 109; Ayr. 1821 Galt Annals viii.), poor (Cai. 1909 D. Houston 'E Silkie Man 10), po'er (Lnk. 1919 G. Rae Clyde and Tweed 43), po'or (ne.Sc. 1929 J. B. Philip Weelum 26). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. power. [′puər]

I. n.

Sc. forms of Eng. power.Sc. 1991 William Wolfe in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 65:
Frute o universal pouer, aye seekan
Seekan tae sain the skaith o goddesses an
Ring the willyart herts o humanitie.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 53:
In Steenhive, fowks war beginnin tae steer, rinnin like rats amang the grummel, caain fur their faimlies an friens. Wi the pooer aff an the mains brust, I kent I'd nae chance o gettin a message throw tae the toun.

Sc. usages:

1. Power of control, jurisdiction, command. Obs. in Eng. in 14th c. Phr. power of face, control over one's facial expression.Sc. 1759 Letter from a Blacksmith:
There is such an absurd mixture of the serious and comic, that were we convened for any other purpose than that of worshipping the God and Governor of Nature, the scene would exceed all power of face.Ayr. 1870 J. K. Hunter Life Studies 19:
I wad be ayont fifteen, a sturdy fellow, feth! but hadna the power o' a bawbee.Abd. 1893 G. MacDonald Heather & Snow xi.:
She's i' the pooer o' 't [money] till he come o' age.

2. A large number (of persons or things), a great quantity, many, much (Uls. 1904 Victoria Coll. Mag. 48). Gen.Sc. Also in Eng. dial. and colloq. use. Hence pooerful, in large numbers, in crowds.m.Lth. 1786 G. Robertson Har'st Rig (1801) x.:
Frae Keppoch's and Glengarie's lands There comes a power o' special hands.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 141:
An' like a wh-re to say them nae A pour o' times.Sc. 1825 T. D. Lauder Lochandhu xli.:
Forbye a pour o sailor fouk, and sic like, that gied her house gude custom.Ayr. 1826 Galt Last of Lairds iii.:
Her burial cost me a power of money.Lnl. 1868 A. Dawson Rambling Recoll. 36:
Shortly before he quitted this stage, being asked if he would have his usual dram “now” or on return from his errand, “Lord, Mem,” said he, “I'll tak it jist noo, for there's been a poor o' sudden deaths.”Abd. 1880 G. Webster Crim. Officer 13:
Him, ye ken, 't dee't at Pitfodels a fyou years ago, an' leeft a poo'er o' siller.Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 45:
Da craws wis abott her most pooerful.Kcb. 1898 Crockett Standard Bearer xiv.:
There cam' a pour o' men-folk frae 'tween the lintels.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 40:
Doo'll hae to buy a poo'er o' maet ta feed dat screed.Sc. 1957 N. B. Morrison Other Traveller ii.:
“You had a bad winter, hadn't you?” . . . “We had a power of snow,” replied Mr. Gunn.

II. v., tr. To exert power over (a person or thing), to command, control.Ork. 1713 P. Ork. A.S. XI. 36:
I rest DB Yours to pour William Fea.