Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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DARE, Daur, Dere, Dar, v., n. [dɑ:r]

1. v. †(1) intr. To be afraid, to shake with fear (Ags., Fif. 1825 Jam.², daur); to "crouch, hide, lie hid" (Jam.⁶). Also used with at. Obs. in Eng. since 15th cent. (N.E.D.).Sc. 1887 Jam.⁶:
He'll dare or dere at his ain shadow.Ags., Slg. 1808 Jam.:
To dare at, to be afraid of a person or thing.

(2) tr. "To keep under abash, intimidate, cow, terrify" (Jam.⁶). Ppl.adj. daurin'. Known to Abd.²⁷ 1947, Lnk.³ 1940. Also in use in Eng. dial. (E.D.D.).Dmf. 1805 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 783:
Wi' daurin' glowr her dirk she drew.Abd.(D) 1920 G. P. Dunbar Peat Reek 9:
She lo'ed the bonnie, lauchin' lad her faither couldna daur.

2. n. A feeling of awe or fear (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), dar; Ags., Fif. 1825 Jam.²).

Phrs.: (1) to be in daur of, to be in awe of, to fear; (2) to bide a daur o, to stand in awe of; (3) to hae (pit) a daur on (owre), to instil respect or fear into, to intimidate; (4) to stand daur o', to fear.(1) Per. 1899 C. M. Stuart Pitcoonans (1924) 7:
Every one respected Sandy, but none of us were in "daur" of him, and we expressed our opinions somewhat freely.(2) Per. 1878 R. Ford Hame-spun Lays 104:
Feint a loon for miles aroun' But bides a daur o' Maggie's mither.(3) Fif.¹⁰ 1939:
Of a man who had several imbecile children, it was said: "It had been dune (i.e. by Providence) to pit a daur owre him, for he had been awfu' for lauchin' at ither fowk (i.e. who were similarly afflicted) when he was a young (= unmarried) man." To a reckless ill-doer, to whom some calamity has happened, it will be said, "Weel, that'll shairly pit a daur on him" (i.e. intimidate him, frighten him into better conduct).Bwk.² 1947:
Parents hae nae daur owre their bairns noo-a-days.(4) Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 35:
"We'll meet dem [sheep], an' dey'll shürely staand some daur o' da dugs," I says.