Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1788, 1841, 1897-1928
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‡DOWLESS, adj. Also †dowles, †dawless. Feeble, lacking in strength or energy (Slg.3 1940; wm.Sc. 1835–37 Laird of Logan, Add. 577; Kcb.3 1929; Rxb. 1825 Jam.2, dawless, 1923 Watson W.-B., dowless, obsol.).Sc.(E) 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws ii.:
What for did thae dawless brothers o' yours no play, eh, Trimmie?Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 7:
An' a' that rackt Tam's curly pow Was gif Dod Broon wad keep his vow, . . . Or swither like a dowless fule.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 132:
Wheens cripplan, dowless, frae the strife.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 50:
We, wi' Winter's dowless days, Are chitt'ran sair wi' caul'.Ayr. 1841 J. Paton Songs 3:
My muse this while's turn'd unco crabbit, Dull dowles like a worn out rabbit.
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"Dowless adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/dowless>
