Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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AW(E), YAUW, AVE, AAV(E), AFF, n.¹ Also aa. [ɑ: Abd., Ags.; jɑ: Abd. (old); ɑ:v + ɑ:f Bch., L.Bnff., Mry.; ǫ: m.Sc.; ɒ: Kcb.]

1. Flat board attached to each stud of an undershot or breast water-wheel (Per. 1799 Edb. Weekly Jnl. (6 Feb.)).Sc. c.1793 Stat. Acc.¹ (Unst, Sh.) V. 193:
The water falls upon the awes, or feathers of the tirl, at the inclination of between 40 and 45 degrees.Mry.² 1929:
Still known by old people and pronounced ave or aff (in compounds).Bnff.² 1929Abd.⁵ 1929Ags.¹ 1932:
Known to millers.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 35:
Awse o' a Millwheel — Those boards fixed on the periphery of a wheel, to receive the water after it leaves the trowse.

2. The sail or shaft of a windmill.Abd. 1825 Jam.²:
The aws of a windmill, the sails or shafts on which the wind acts.Abd.(D) 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
Some war . . . slappin' their airms like the yauws o' a win'mill.

3. Combs.: (1) Open-awed, adj. (See quot.)Fif. c.1898 J. M. in E.D.D.:
When the water is applied to a wheel abreast the axle and the floats are flat, that sort of wheel is called an open-awed wheel.

(2) Start an ave, start an awe, startin ave or aff. (See quots.)ne.Sc. 1884 W. Gregor in N.E.D.:
Start-and-ave wheel; that is a wheel on the boards or aves of which the water struck, in opposition to "bucket-wheel."Mry.² 1929:
In my young days there were a good many "briest" wheels or "start an ave" as we called them. Two years ago, I valued one of them. [The Start is a piece of wood fixed in the rim of the wheel to which the awe is bolted. O.E. steort, a tail, as in bird-name red-start.]Bnff.¹ 1930:
Startin ave (undershot wheel) was in general use in The Enzie [Bnffsh.].