gowann.
/ˈɡaʊən/, U.S. /ˈɡaʊən/, Scottish English /ˈɡʌʊən/ Scottish and northern dialect.
1. A general name for various yellow or white field flowers. When used without defining word, now always denoting the Common Daisy ( Bellis perennis).
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the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > composite flowers > daisy
daisyc1000
bruisewortOE
primerolea1350
Margaretc1425
gowan1570
primrose1579
marguerite1605
bruise root1698
dog daisy1821
ewe-flower1825
marguerite1847
1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xv. 5 Ȝe greinis, grow gray; ȝe gowanis, dune.
a1600 A. Montgomerie Misc. Poems xli. 10 The feildis ouerflouis With gouans that grouis.
1701 J. Brand Brief Descr. Orkney, Zetland 31 We saw the pleasantest mixture of Gowans..or Daisies white and yellow..that ever we had occasion to see.
1787 R. Burns Death & Dr. Hornbook xxiii, in Poems (new ed.) 62 His braw calf-ward whare gowans grew, Sae white an' bonie.
1812 J. Wilson Gen. View Agric. Renfrewshire 136 (Jam.) Some of the prevailing weeds of the meadows and grass lands are..ox-eye, or large white gowan, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum [etc.].
1815 W. Wordsworth Poems I. 118 Thou, like the morning, in thy saffron coat Bright gowan, and marsh-marygold, farewell.
1856 J. W. Carlyle Lett. II. 284 The hearts of these two old women are as fresh as gowans.
1895 S. R. Crockett Men of Moss-hags i. 1 The dales and holms were pranked out with white hawthorn and broad gowans.
2. With qualifications, as ewe gowan n., may gowan the Common Daisy. gule gowan n. the Corn Marigold. horse gowan n. (see horse n. Compounds 2c). open gowan n. the Globe-flower. yellow gowan n. any species of Ranunculus, also applied generically to all the yellow flowers mentioned above. (See Britten and Holland Plant-n. 1878–86.) See also lucken gowan n., witch gowan n. at witch n. Compounds 2.
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1720 A. Ramsay Young Laird & Edinb. Katy 2 We'll pou the Dazies on the Green, The lucken Gowans frae the Bog.
1721 A. Ramsay Robert Richy & Sandy 35 While on burn banks the Yellow Gowan grows.
1810 A. Cunningham et al. Remains Nithsdale & Galloway Song 110 (note) Witch-gowan flowers, are large yellow gowans, with a stalk filled with pernicious sap.
1842 Hardy in Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 2 No. x. 14 In Lanarkshire..the phrase, yellow gowans, yet flourishes as the common name of the creeping meadow crowfoot (Ranunculus repens).
1842 Hardy in Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 2 19 (note) Ye'll get round again, if ye had your fit (foot) on the May gowan.
Derivatives
ˈgowaned adj. full of gowans; covered with gowans.
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1804 W. Tarras Poems 80 On yon gowan'd lawn she was seen.
1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 265 Clear is Allan's siller stream, An' sweet her gowan'd lea.
ˈgowany adj. = gowaned adj.
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1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd ii. ii O Peggy!.. Sweeter than gowany glens or new mawn hay.
1773 R. Fergusson Poems 106 Doggies play, and lambies sport On gowany braes.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian viii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 163 The green was even, gowany, and fair.
1841 Fraser's Mag. 24 351 They sat on the gowany bank.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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