Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LOWANCE, n. Also lo(w)in(s). 1. An allowance, ration of food and drink or money, e.g. as given to a pensioner, beggar, etc.w., s.Sc. 1887 Jam.:
In speaking of a beggar, “She comes every week for her lowins;” or of a widow, “Her guidman left her a gude loīn.”

2. Permission, liberty (Cld. 1880 Jam.).Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 90:
To apprehend and jail me I gi'e ye 'llowance.

[Aphetic form of Eng. allowance in its two different senses. O.Sc. has lowance, a.1570. The form loin may represent a back-formation or the vbl.n. allowing.]