Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
QUAW, n. Also qua(a), quah, quhaw. [kwɑ:, Gall. + ʍɑ:]
1. A bog, quagmire, marsh (Uls. 1801 Patterson Gl., quaa, quah; Gall. 1902 E.D.D.; Uls.2 1929; Wgt. 1958, quhaw; Gall. 1967). Also fig. Combs. bab(b)anqua, bobbin-, id., soft, spongy ground (Bwk. 1856 G. Henderson Pop. Rhymes 9; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). See Bobbin' Quaw, Babanqua; quak(k)in quaw, id. (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 390; Ayr. 1928; Uls. 1953 Traynor). See also Quak.Per. 1762 Session Papers. Gray v. Maxwell (3 April) 34:
The large Dam of Water which supplies the Mill-lead of Errol, called the Quaa.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 287:
Some think they sank in a snaw wride, and afterwards into a Qua.Gall. 1843 J. Nicholson Tales 129:
He hadna gane far till down he plumpit in a quaa to the saddle laps.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders xviii.:
Green, deceitful, “quakkin-qua's,” covered with a scum that looked like tender young grass, but in which, at the first step, one might sink to the neck.Sc. a.1900 “Mulciber Veritatis” Gallowa' Herds 14:
They'll say it's a' true, and side aye wi' you, Yet they'll spurtle in qua o' black shame.Lnk. 1847 Scots Mag. (March) 458:
Just below the crest, in a “quakin' quaa,” the river is born.Clc. 1952 Scotsman (5 Jan.):
A rash-infested quaakin-qua that will ultimately extend on both sides of Devon.
2. A disused and overgrown pit (Gall. 1825 Jam.); “a hole whence peats have been dug” (Cld. 1825 Jam.).
[O.Sc. quawbog, 1409, qwhawe, 1420, a quagmire, of doubtful orig., phs. < *quall. Quallmyre is recorded once in Eng. in 1553. There may be some connection with Early Mid.Eng. cwellen, to well up, as a spring (cf. Ger. quelle), or alternatively the word may be onomat. as quag in quagmire, and cf. also Quave above.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Quaw n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/quaw>
