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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Know, n. Also: knowe, cnow, knou; (pl. knoys). [Var. of Knoll n., with the regular change of -ol(l. The usual Sc. form, and also in the mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial. as knowe.] A small rounded hill, a hillock or a mound; one of a cluster of these. Also attrib. with hede and side.(1) sing. 1513 Doug. xi. xvi. 44.
From this knowys hycht, or lityll hyll, Abydis this ilk Aruns till espy 1523 Selkirk B. Ct. fol. 106 b.
Upone the norcht part of the Kyngis streit wnder the knowe 1533 Boece ii. vii. 70 b.
Colane … drew to ane litill know beside 1535 Stewart 8328.
Syne on his graif tha set … Ane mekill know Ib. 33617.
On ane know, that wes bayth round and hie, … That stane wes set 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 20.
I brak my heid vpoun ane know of reme 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Eclogue v. 42.
Tumulum: (a hilloke, a know) 1577 Edinb. Test. VI. 24.
With ane know callit the Quhytlaw ?1549 Monro W. Isles 45.
Ane round heigh know 16.. Hist. Kennedy 29.
He stayitt … behind ane know 1623 Brechin Test. IV. 130 b.
The tak of the know of the Muir 1629 Reg. Great S. 469/1.
Cum lie medow-buttis, lie know of land a gramine ad Blindwoll jacen. supra Pitfyvie 1636 Orkney Bishop Ct. 99.
The know vpoun the head of the brae 1641 Acts V. (1817) 629/1.
To ane know called Knoknacreiche 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII. 219.
The round knowe at the back of the yards of Tulliebole(2) plur. c 1505 Reg. Cupar A. 261.
Liand in the Baitchelhil haucht. nixt the sandy knoys 1513 Doug. viii. iv. 75.
With thar noys dynnyt hillis and knowys [: lowis] 1533 Bell. Livy II. 231/27.
Apperit to me, … the knowis about Rome, the feildis, the rever of Tiber 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 460.
The said Henry … laid at await for the said James be gait sydis and on knowis about 1596 Dalr. I. 15/27.
Paslay is situat amang cnowis Ib. 18/5.
That flowis from the topis of the knowis in Craufurdmure Ib. 39/8.
In Loquhaber, and vthiris places amang hilis & knowis 1611 Reg. Panmure I. xcvii.
The ground of Carmyly … is al heighe, and ryses in lytil knowes mair proper for bestial then cornes 1658 S. Leith Rec. 110.
To visit the windmill yaird and to cause cast downe the knowes thairof and to fill up the ditches 1670 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 82 (14 July).
[Till] itt coume to thea knoues called the Widerloucke 1684 Sibbald Scot. Illustr. 28.
Colles, si singulare, nostratibus dicuntur a Hill, … si glomerati Knowes dicuntur(3) attrib. 15.. Wyf Awcht. 97.
Vp he gat one ane know heid, On hir to cray 1565 Reg. Great S. 656/1.
Fra that west … to the Hay know heid 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII. 222.
The said James Wilson being lying upon ane knowehead above the stack — a1578 Pitsc. (1728) 42.
A company of fresh men … taking the advantage of the know [S.T.S., bray] side c 1690 (17..) Coltness Coll. 11.
He was a great frequenter of knowsyde preachings (so he called field conventicles)