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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.

SCOUR, v.², n.² Also scoor (Abd. 1875 G. Macdonald Malcolm I. xvi.; Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 171; Ork. 1910 Old-Lore Misc. III. i. 30); scow(e)r (Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 31; Gall. 1898 A. J. Armstrong Levellers 121). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. scour, to rush, run about, traverse, search hither and thither.

I. v.

Sc. form of Eng. scour, to move rapidly.Per. 1990 Betsy Whyte Red Rowans and Wild Honey (1991) 67:
A watery sun timidly peeped through the clouds about midday. Then sent them scoorin from her sight, so that her welcome rays spread joy all over us.

Sc. usages:

As in Eng. Vbl.n. scourin, a rushing about, a fuss, commotion (Inv. 1958). Comb. scoor-the-kintry, roving, vagabond.Slg. 1901 R. Buchanan Poems 183:
Ye scoor-the-kintry blackguard.

II. n. 1. A run, rush, a quick pace or walk, a race (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 149; n.Sc. 1969). Phr. at a guid scour, at a quick pace. Obs. in Eng.Kcd. 1796 J. Burness Thrummy Cap (1887) 8:
Sae on they gaed at a guid scour.Sc. 1821 Bannockburn I. i.:
I'll hae a scour down to Carron to see them.Ags. 1822 A. Balfour Farmer's Three Daughters IV. viii.:
I took the mare a skelp, an' cam aff at a good scour of a trot.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders xxx.:
Taking a scour up over the rugged boulders.

2. A blow, stroke, swipe, box (on the ear) (ne.Sc. 1969); sim. of words: a cutting remark, a rebuke. For comb. doup-scour see Doup, n.¹, 2. (1).Abd. 1882 T. Mair John o' Arnha's Latterday Exploits 20:
As if it smote on beef, there cam' A squash wi' ilka scour.Bnff. 1934 J. M. Caie Kindly North 31:
The fermer, stan'in' there, on openin's mou', Got files an anterin scoor.Bnff. 1955 Banffshire Jnl. (5 May):
I gya 'er a richt gweed scoor on the jaw.