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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STROW, n.¹, v. Also strowd (Gregor). [strʌu]

I. n. 1. A contention, squabble, struggle, quarrel (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; Ags. 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 185); a commotion, bustle, turmoil, general excitement or to-do (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1957); specif. a scatter of coins at a wedding for children to scramble for (Rxb. 1967). Cf. How -strow.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 80:
Amid this strowe o' warl's wae.s.Sc. 1815 J. Ruickbie Poems 219:
Num'rous legions Which breed an awfu' strow in hell's Dark gloomy regions.Sc. 1823 R. McChronicle Legends Scot. II. 113:
The man that made a' the strow atween ye and bonny Jemmy Malcolm.Bnff. 1852 A. Harper Solitary Hours 43:
Sometimes he rais'd a strow at drinking.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 185:
They wir ance thick eneuch; bit some unco strowd's come amo' thim.

‡2. A confusion, mess, litter (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also in Nhb. dial.

3. A fit of bad-temper (Ags. 1808 Jam.; I. Sc. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 215; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 185, strowd).

4. A short illness (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 185, strowd).

II. v. ‡1. To strew, scatter about (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Sc. 1713 Two Students (Dickinson 1952) 81:
For strowing the Common Schools at the Semi black stone . . . 12s.Sc. 1778 A. Wight Present State Husbandry II. 162:
He strows on the floor of the dovecot, oat-chaff or sheeling-seeds.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 46:
For you I'll strow the little grain.Knr. 1917 J. L. Robertson Petition to Deil 11:
Lure him alang the brunstane road Wi' broken touns an' treaties strow'd.

‡2. To mingle, commix, as a busy crowd (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).