Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1825, 1988
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SHARROW, adj. Also sharro, shirro(wy) (Marw.); sherrow. Bitter to the taste, sour, tart, acid (Cai. 1825 Jam., Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Cai. 1970); fig. keen, sharp in business, exacting. Derivs. or variant forms shirroch, shirragh, sour, acrid (Cld. 1825 Jam.), sharrachie, shellachie, chilly, piercingly cold, of the weather (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.), shirraghie, -ochy, having a sour, haughty, or passionate look (Cld. 1880 Jam.).Cai. 1825 Jam.:
A sharrow craver, one who acts the part of a dun.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 72:
Dae ye think yon Henley kent whit a kailyard wes?
Or aw thir ither expairts frae The Toun,
the Heich-Heid-Criticasters lukkin doun
thair nebs tae snirt et kintra chiels lik us
an runkle up a tairt an sharrow phiz?
We ken forbye the ceetie scrievin-loun
hes for a spy-gless Geordie Dooglas Broon
an taks as gospel every ward he says.
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"Sharrow adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/sharrow_adj>
