dowie

American  

[dou-ee, doh-ee] / ˈdaʊ i, ˈdoʊ i /

Or dowy

adjective

Scot. and North England.

1. dull; melancholy; dismal.

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Other Word Forms

• dowily adverb
• dowiness noun

Etymology

Origin of dowie

1500–10; variant of dolly, equivalent to dull + -ly

Example Sentences

As he gaed ower yon high, high hill, And down yon dowie den, Great and grievous was the ghost he saw, Would fear ten thousand men.

From Ballads of Mystery and Miracle and Fyttes of Mirth Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - Second Series by Sidgwick, Frank

Our toun, yince sae cheerie, is dowie an' eerie; Our shippies hae left us, our trade is awa'; There's nae fair maids strayin', nae wee bairnies playin; Ye've muckle to answer for, Peter M'Craw!

From My Schools and Schoolmasters or The Story of my Education. by Miller, Hugh

"O that is a gift, but a dowie gift, Now, Annie, thou winsome may;90 Ye maun gi'e her your best goud girdle, Her gude will for to ha'e."

From English and Scottish Ballads (volume 3 of 8) by Various

Mirren McKinnon, that was once Mirren Stuart, was dowie that day, and her eyes red with greeting, for her son had gone to the sea, as his father had long ago.

From The McBrides A Romance of Arran by Sillars, John

He rode up yon high hill, An’ down yon dowie glen; The roaring o’ Clyde’s water Wad hae fleyt ten thousand men.

From Ballads of Scottish Tradition and Romance Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - Third Series by Sidgwick, Frank