Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HOW, n.² Also how(i)e. A pre-historic burial mound, a barrow, tumulus (Ork. 1808 Jam., 1866 Edm. Gl., howie). Now obs. except arch or hist. and in place-names. [hʌu]Ork. 1774 G. Low Tour (1879) 51:
In the Parish of Holm we observe many vestiges of antiquity, particularly Pights' houses, the ruins of several yet appearing round the shores, in the form of pretty large hillocks, called by the inhabitants Howies as Castle-howie.Ork. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XIV. 135:
About half a mile from the semicircular range of stones, is another beautiful tumulus, considerably larger than the former, around which has been a large ditch. This last is distinguished by the name of Mesow, or Mese-how. . . . In this country. how is of the same import with knoll, or know, in other parts of Scotland, and is applied to elevated hillocks, whether artificial or natural.Ork. 1883 R. M. Fergusson Rambling Sk. 23:
Many of the inscriptions are such as anyone seeking the shelter or concealment of the “broken howe” might scribble.

Hence ¶howelaid, buried in a tumulus [a translation of O.N. heygðr, id., “howed”].Ork. 1897 C. Rampini Hist. Mry. & Nai. 31:
Before many days were over he [Earl of Orkney] was dead. And he was howelaid at a place called Ekkialsbakki.