Jow v.

Sc. and north. dial. [Cf. JOWL v.¹, to which this answers phonetically: see prec. It is not certain that the word is the same in all the senses.]

  1.  trans. To knock, strike (esp. the head).

1802.  Mrs. Wheeler, Westmld. Dial., iii. (ed. 2), 94. Yee er sae knockd an jowd.

1863.  Lancash. Fents, New Shirt, 11. If aw wurt jow mi yed till aw seed blue leets flyin’ eawt on’t.

1882.  in Lanc. Gloss.

1886.  in Chesh. Gloss.

  2.  To ring or toll a bell, esp. without giving it a full swing (see quot. 1825). Sc.

1516.  [see JOWING below].

a. 1572.  Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 46. He … caused immediatlie to jow the bell, and to give significatioun that he wald preach.

1816.  Scott, Bl. Dwarf, ii. If ye’ll just gar your servant jow out the great bell in the tower.

1825–80.  Jamieson, s.v., Sometimes a bell is said to be jowed, when it receives only half the motion, so that the tongue is made to strike only on one side.

  b.  intr. Of a bell: To toll or ring. Sc.

1785.  Burns, Holy Fair, xxvi. Now Clinkumbell, wi’ rattling tow Begins to jow and croon.

1824.  Scott, Redgauntlet, x. There is the council bell clinking in earnest: and if I am not there before it jows in, Bailie Laurie will be trying some of his manœuvres.

1858.  Whittier, From Perugia, xi. There! the bells jow and jangle the same blessed way That they did when they rang for Bartholomew’s day.

  3.  intr. To move from side to side with a slow or rocking motion. Sc.

1816.  Scott, Antiq., xxvi. He kens weel eneugh wha … keeps a’ tight thack and rape, when his coble is jowing awa in the Firth.

  Hence Jowing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.

1516.  Council Rec. Edin. (Jam.). That all maneir of persouns … compeir … to the said Presidentis, at jowyng of the common bell.

1813.  Scott, Rob Roy, xiv. Yon’s the curfew, as they ca’ their jowing-in bell.