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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STROWD, n., v. Also stroud; ¶strood (Abd. 1873 J. Ogg Willie Waly 206). [strʌud]

I. n. ‡1. A popular, usu. anonymous, song of a light or somewhat nonsensical character, a street-ballad or the like (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Abd. 1971); a depreciatory term for any piece of verse. Hence stroud-seller, a ballad-monger.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 80:
Now, sirs, ye've seen our Douglas thro' an' thro'; What think ye o' the stroud? 'tis far frae

new.Sc. 1826 Aberdeen Censor 147:
Daft to sing sic strowds on the Sabbath-day.Kcd. 1844 W. Jamie Muse 109:
Wasting paper and his time, When he composed this stroud in rhyme.Abd. c.1880 People's Jnl. (10 May 1958):
I was fascinated by one “stroud-seller” — a hawker of street ballads. With his sightless face tilted skywards he was singing one of his strouds.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 31:
Some stroud 'at they hear in the Chaumer.Abd. 1968 Abd. Press and Jnl. (30 Jan.):
That disreputable old stroud “The Souter's Feast.'

2. A piece of nonsense, rubbishy talk or writing, balderdash (Abd. 1971).Abd. c.1880:
Schoolmaster: Blot out a' that strowd![off a pupil's slate]Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 55:
The papers wi' their fleggin' strouds to gie their readers frichts.

II. v. To sing badly or without feeling, to bawl in singing (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 185).