Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1826, 1887
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LOWANCE, n. Also lo(w)in(s). 1. An allowance, ration of food and drink or money, e.g. as given to a pensioner, beggar, etc.w.Sc., s.Sc. 1887 Jam.:
In speaking of a beggar, "She comes every week for her lowins;" or of a widow, "Her guidman left her a gude loīn."
2. Permission, liberty (Cld. 1880 Jam.).Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 90:
To apprehend and jail me I gi'e ye 'llowance.
[Aphetic form of Eng. allowance in its two different senses. O.Sc. has lowance, a.1570. The form loin may represent a back-formation or the vbl.n. allowing.]
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"Lowance n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 Mar 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snd00089030>
