Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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COW, Cowe, Coo, v.², n.³ Used as in Eng. = to intimidate. The following meanings are peculiar to Sc. [kʌu, ku: (rare)]

I. v., tr. and intr.

1. tr. †(1) “To upbraid, to rate, to scold an equal, or superior; not used of an inferior” (Dmf. 1825 Jam.²); to rebuke.Lth. 1801 J. Thomson Poems 82:
An' sair he cow'd that sin o' pride, A thing I never yet cou'd bide.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 45:
While Megg for drink her apron pawns, For a' the gude-man cow'd her Whan fu' last night.

(2) “To dare or challenge another” (Uls. (Armagh, Tyrone) 1929 (per Uls.²), cow).

2. intr. “To turn coward” (Id.).

†II. n. A fright. Also in phr. to hold under coo, to keep in a cowed state.Ags. 1879 G. W. Donald Poems 9:
But never met wi' sic a cowe Sin' I kent cauk or keel frae tow.Gsw. 1898 D. Willox Poems and Sk. 251:
Thus Tam, wha could twist a horse-shoe Wi' a wrench o' the haun, like a docken, Was held by his wife under coo, Like a coute that has newly been broken.