Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Cat-harrow, n. [? Cat n.¹] To draw (at or in) the catharrow, to draw different ways, to thwart each other. 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 308.
For euery lord … Brocht in ane bird … To be ane wacheman to his marrow; Thay gan to draw at the cat harrow c 1570 Sat. P. xx. 71.
All togidder draw, Not in cat-harrowis lyke cankrit marrowis, For feir of efter flaw 1605 Elphinstone Mem. 150.
Wee hope, our vnanime proceeding shall free your Maiestie of any suspition of drawing the catte-harrow in that seruice