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.

Clow, n.¹ Also: pl. clowis, clowes, clowse, clous. [ME. clow(e, pl. clowes (14th c.), OF. clou (de gilofre). See also Clois, Cloys.] A clove. Usu. in pl. 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 287.
For half a pund of clowis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 192.
Powderit with prymros, sawrand all with clowis [M. clowse] 1517 Caldwell Fam. P. 56.
Twa punds of clowis … Tua punds of cannel 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 184.
xij pundis of clow, cannell and orrenge 1546 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 125.
Clowes, cannell, mases, … saffroun and siclyke 1586 Edinb. Test. XV. 118 b.
Tua pund weycht of maisis and clowis 1598 Stirling Ant. III. 308.
Ane wnce clous … ane wnce cannell 1689 Stirling B. Rec. II. 336.
For carvies, clow, & almonds 1689 A. Hay St. Germain's Royal Phys. 50 (Jam. (1825) s.v. Clow).
Aromaticks, of cannel, cardamoms, clowes, gingerattrib. 1587 Edinb. Test. XVIII. 246.
and comb. Tua pund wecht of clow confeit and tua pund of orange 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII. 359.
A suite of clow colloured hingings