Dow
/duː/noun
An archaic or Scottish verb meaning to be useful, suffice, or be worth something.
Did you know?Dow comes from the same Germanic family as doughty, a word once describing someone strong, brave, or capable.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*duganą
“To be useful, fit, or of worth.”
Old English
Old English
dugan
“To be good, be worth, or be capable of helping.”
Middle English
Middle English
duȝen
“To be of use or to avail.”
15th–16th Century
Scots
dow
“To suffice, avail, or be capable.”
Modern English
English
dow
“An archaic or dialectal verb meaning to be useful or sufficient.”