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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

SHOUR, n., v. Also shouer, sho(o)(e)r, †shouir, †schour (Jam.), shure (Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 141): shewer (Sc. 1803 Scots Mag. (March) 174), showr(e). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. shower. [′ʃu:(ə)r]

I. n. 1. As in Eng. (Bwk. c.1830 Minstrels Merse (Crockett 1893) 169; Ags. 1869 R. Leighton Poems 351; Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb vi.; e.Lth. 1885 J. Lumsden Rural Rhymes 92; Uls. 1931 Northern Whig (11 Dec.) 13; Sh. 1948 New Shetlander No. 8. 3). Dims. shoorie (Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 141), showerickie (Knr. 1825 Jam.).Edb. 1991 J. K. Annand in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 19:
A kirkyaird was my gairden,
A grave my bed o flouers,
And frae my green tree's brainches
The flourish fell in shouers. Arg. 1993:
As lang as the shooers went away.

2. A flood of tears, esp. of a peevish child (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Phr. a shower i' the heads, id. See Heid, n., 4. (1).

3. A throe or paroxysm of pain, sickness, etc.; specif. the pangs of childbirth (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh. 1970).Sc. 1783 Gil Brenton in Child Ballads No. 5 A. xxxii.:
Your lady's in her bigly bowr, An for you she drees mony sharp showr.Sc. 1825 Mary Hamilton in Child Ballads No. 173 B. v.:
It was a shouir o sad sickness Made me weep sae bitterlie.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (28 Aug.):
Efter rinnin' I got a shooer o' da host.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 93:
Kirsie is hed a odious shooer o' riftin.

II. v. As in Eng. (Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 14; Lnk. 1919 G. Rae Clyde and Tweed 90). Abd. 2000 Sheena Blackhall The Singing Bird 44:
A crackerjack o Catherine wheels;
Wirligigs o gimcrack whigmaleeries
Shooer skyrie spirkin starnies in the lift