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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.

How, adj. Also: howe, hou, hough. [Var. of Holl adj.]

1. Hollow, in various applications. Also, deep.(1) c 1450 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 204.
Thrie silver how pecis with ane flas peice of silver 1529 M. Works Acc. I. 23 b.
Ane how stapill and sloittis 1536 Treas. Acc. VI. 286.
Ane how bassing 1562 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 649/1.
Deliuerit to … the cuikis … ane litle how pane 1575 Edinb. Test. IV. 42.
He levis … my litill how pece of siluer to Johne Gordoun 1608 Ib. XLIV. 164 b.
Ane mekill how tas with ane cover 1615 Ib. XLIX. 14.
Four planes how and round 1615 Haddington Corr. 288.
Ane how dowbill gilt coup … , ane vther hower gilt coup 1616–9 M. Works Acc. XV. 6.
A how tub 1657 Montgomery Mem. 320.
Ane litle how cupe of silver(2) 1459 Burnett of Leys 163.
Vsque ad How slak 1513 Doug. viii. x. 65.
The sonnys bemys … Schynand … forgane the skyis how Ib. xi. x. 69.
In the how slak … I sall my men of armys hyde 1535 Stewart 33810.
The water … with furdis deip and how 1549 Compl. 38.
Blaberand eccho … in ane hou hole Ib.
The depe hou cauernis of cleuchis 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 213.
Nocht to mak the samyn [space] brader, nor ȝit to holk it hower nor the calsay 1561 Prot. Bk. G. Grote 45.
[The redemption of his] nedir-eist howbuith1562 Will A. Betoun 224.
In the how chalmer under the hall 1584 Prot. Bk. A. Gibson 55.
That foir tenement of land … contenyng ane how laich boyth 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xiii.
The fumart and the fittret straue, The deip and howest hole to haue 1600-1610 Melvill 259.
A strype weill how of sevin or aught feit brod 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 156/827.
In how parts of our stomack Ib. II. 30/34.
The groundes of houest seas 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 62.
David Hoode … [murdered] Johnne Harlaw, … and keastt him in a howe ditche 1680 Soc. Ant. XLV. 241.
In the howe pot of hell(3) a1500 Henr. III. 116/12.
His ene wes how Ib. 156/21.
Thy lusty heid Holkit and how 1513 Doug. ix. xi. 78.
The how cavern of his wo[u]nd 1587-99 Hume iv. 19.
Forsunken ar mine eies How in my head(4) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 152.
Ilk ane … spake with sa how voce 1681 Glanvill Sadducismus ii. 295.
He observed that the black man's voice was hough and goustie

b. In the superl., the deepest or innermost part (of anything). 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 152/736.
With an apostume filling vp The howest of his brest Ib. 193/746.
Shall I neuer see The spyddiris ... feit full bussie for to uaue Uithin the houest of a healme

2. How barrow, a barrow with sides. How tide, low tide. 1531-2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 73.
In tua stirroppis for ane how barrow for service of colis 1532 Ib. 112. 1546–7 Ayr B. Acc. 101.
For four burdis to he ane how barrow 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 84.
For the making of thre stane barrois and thre how barrois Ib. 95.
The stirroppis of the how barrois — 1535 Reg. Great S. 356/1.
Ab aqua de Annand ad aquam de Edin in lie howtide