Chapter C: B. bost-io, to vaunt one's self; bost, vaunting

BOIST, BOST, _s._ Threatening, S.

_Wallace._

BOIT, _s._ A cask or tub used for the purpose of curing butcher-meat, or for holding it after it is cured; sometimes called a _beef-boat_, S.

_Ruddiman._

Germ. _butte_; Ital. _botte_, id., whence E. _butt_. Su. G.
_byttia_, situla, cupa; Teut. _botte_, id. dolium, orca, cupa.

_To_ BOK, BOCK, _v. a._

1. To vomit, S.

_Gawan and Gol._

2. To reach, to incline to puke, S.

3. To belch, (eructare) S.

A. Bor. _boke_, _bowk_, to nauseate, to be ready to vomit; _booac_, to reach, to keck, ibid. Perhaps from A. S. _bealc-an_, eructare. It however has greater resemblance of _puke_, to which no etymon has been assigned.

BOK, BOCK, _s._ The act of reaching, S.

_Cleland._

BOKEIK, _s._ Bopeep, a game.

_Lyndsay._

BOKS, _s. pl._ "Corner teeth," Gl. Sibb.

_Maitland Poems._

_To_ BOLDIN, BOLDYN, _v. n._ To swell.

_Douglas._

~Boldin~, ~Boulden~, _part. pa._ swelled.

This is softened into _bowdin_, _bowden_, S. Often in the _pret._ and _part._ it is written _bolnys_, swells, (Doug. V.) and _bolnyt_. I hesitate whether these are contr. from _boldinnys_, _boldinnyt_, or the v. in another form, more nearly resembling Su. G. _buln-a_, Dan. _bul-ner_. Su. G. _bul-na_, _bulg-ia_, id. _bolginn_, swollen. Hence Isl. bilgia, Su. G. bolgia, a billow; because it is raised by the wind; and _bolda_, a boil, a tumour. Gael. _builg-am_ to swell, _builg_, a blister.

BOLGAN LEAVES, Nipplewort, an herb, S. B. Lapsana communis, Linn.

Perhaps from Isl. _bolg-a_, tumere, or Su. G. _bolginn_, swollen, q. "swelling leaves," as being supposed by the vulgar in S. to be efficacious in removing swellings.

_To_ BOLYN, _v. n._ To lay tack aboard.

_Maitland Poems._

O. Fr. _bolin-er_, to sail by a wind, or close upon a wind.

BOLL, _Lintseed Boll_.

V. ~Bow~.

BOLLMAN, _s._ A cottager, Orkn.

_Statist. Acc._

Perhaps from Su. G. Isl. _bol_, villa, and _man_, q. the inhabitant
of a village. It is always pronounced _bowman_.

BOLME, _s._ A boom, a waterman's pole.

_Douglas._

Germ. _baum_, Belg. _boom_, a tree.

BOLNIT.

V. ~Boldin~.

BOLNYNG, _s._ Swelling.

V. ~Boldin~.

_Henrysone._

BOLSTER, _s._ That part of a mill in which the axletree moves, S.

BOMBILL, _s._ Buzzing noise; metaph. used for boasting.

_Polwart._

Teut. _bommele_, a drone.

BON, _s._ Apparently, bane, injury.

_Wallace._

BONALAIS, BONAILIE, BONNAILLIE, _s._ A drink taken with a friend, when one is about to part with him; as expressive of one's wishing him a prosperous journey, S.

_Wallace._

It is now generally pron. _bonaillie_, S. _Bonalais_ might seem to
be the plur. But perhaps it merely retains the form of Fr. _Bon allez_.

BONE, _s._ A petition, a prayer.

_Douglas._

O. E. id. Isl. _baen_, precatio, oratio; _boon_ petitio, gratis
acceptio, mendicatio, G. Andr. A. S. _ben_, _bene_, id.

BONETT, _s._ "A small sail, fixed to the bottom or sides of the great sails, to accelerate the ship's way in calm weather." Gl. Compl.

_Douglas._

Fr. _bonnette_, Sw. _bonet_, id.

BONIE, BONYE, BONNY, _adj._

1. Beautiful, pretty, S.

_Maitland Poems._

_Boniest_, most beautiful.

_Montgomerie._

2. It is occasionally used ironically, in the same way with E. _pretty_, S.

_Priests of Peblis._

3. Precious, valuable.

_Minstrelsy Border._

_Bonny_ is used in the same sense by Shakspeare, and since his time by some other E. writers. But I suspect that it is properly S. Johnson derives it from Fr. _bon_, _bonne_, good. This is by no means satisfactory; but we must confess that we cannot substitute a better etymon.

BONYNES, _s._ Beauty, handsomeness.

_Philotus_.

BONK, _s._ Bank.

_Douglas._

Probably corr. from A. S. _bene_. Isl. _bunga_, however, signifies
tumor terrae.

BONNAGE, _s._ An obligation, on the part of the tenant, to cut down the proprietor's corn.

_Statist. Acc._

Evidently a corr. of _Bondage_.

BONNAR, _s._ "A bond," Gl.

_Popular Ball._

BONNET.

V. ~White Bonnet~.

BONOCH, _s._ "A binding to tie a cow's hind legs when she is a-milking."

_Kelly._

BONSPEL, _s._ A match, at the diversion of _curling_ on the ice, between two opposite parties, S.

V. ~Curl~.

_Graeme._

Belg. _bonne_, a village, a district, and _spel_, play; because the inhabitants of different villages or districts contend with each other in this sport, one parish, for example, challenging another. Or, the first syllable may be traced to Su. G. _bonde_, an husbandman.

BONXIE, _s._ The name given to the Skua Gull, Shetl.

_Neill._

BOO, BOW, _s._ A term sometimes used to denote a farm-house or village, in conjunction with the proper name, Ang.

Su. G. _bo_, Isl. _bu_, _boo_, domicilium, a house or dwelling, also,
a village; Moes. G. _baua_, id.

In the Orkney Islands, where the Gothic was long preserved in greater purity than in our country, the principal farm-house on an estate, or in any particular district of it, is in a great many instances called the _Boll_ or _Bow_.

_Barry._

BOODIES, _pl._ Ghosts, hobgoblins, Aberd.

_Journal Lond._

It might be deduced from A. S. _boda_, a messenger, from _bod-ian_, to declare, to denounce. But it seems to be rather originally the same with C. B. _bugudhai_, hobgoblins, Gael. _bodach_, a ghost.

BOOL, _s._ A contemptuous term for a man, especially if advanced in years. It is often conjoined with an epithet; as "an auld _bool_," an old fellow, S.

Su. G. _bol_, the trunk of the body, as distinguished from the head
and feet.

BOOLS _of a pot_, _s. pl._ Two crooked instruments of iron, linked together, used for lifting a pot by the ears, S.; also called _clips_.

Teut. _boghel_, numella; Germ. _bugel_, any thing that is circular
or curved.

BOOL-HORNED, _adj._ Perverse, obstinate, inflexible, S. apparently from the same origin with ~Bools~.

_Boolie-horned_, Border, and W. of S. A. Bor. _buckle-horns_, short
crooked horns turned horizontally inwards.

BOONMOST, _adj._ Uppermost, S. pron. _bunemist_.

_Ross._

A. S. _bufan_, _bufon_, above, and _most_.

BOOT, BUT, BOUD, BIT, BUD, BOOST, _v. imp._ Behoved, was under a necessity of, S.; _He boot to do_ such a thing; he could not avoid it. _It bit to be_; it was necessary that this should take place.

_Ross. Burns._

_Bus_ and _bud_ occur in the same sense in Ywaine and Gawin. Most
probably it is a corr. of _behoved_, Belg. _behoeft_.

BOOST, _s._ A box.

V. ~Buist~.

BOR, BOIR, BORE, _s._

1. A small hole or crevice; a place used for shelter, especially by smaller animals, S.

_Sir Tristrem._

2. An opening in the clouds, when the sky is thick and gloomy, or during rain, is called a _blue bore_, S. It is sometimes used metaph.

_Baillie._

Su. G. Germ. _bor_, terebra; Isl. _bora_, foramen; A. S. _bor-ian_,
to pierce.

BORCH, BORGH, BOWRCH, BOROW, _s._ A surety. The term properly denotes a person who becomes bail for another, for whatever purpose.

_Wallace._

2. A pledge; any thing laid in pawn.

_Barbour._

The term occurs in both senses in O. E. A. S. _borg_, _borh_, fide-jussor; also, foenus; Germ. _burge_, a pledge. Su. G. _borgen_, suretyship. Ihre derives Su. G. and Isl. _borg-a_, to become surety, from _berg-a_, a periculo tueri, to protect from danger. The idea is certainly most natural: For what is suretyship, but warranting the _safety_ of any person or thing?

_To_ BORCH, _v. a._ To give a pledge or security for, to bail.

_Wallace._

_To_ BORROW, BORW, _v. a._

1. To give security for; applied to property.

_Wyntown._

2. To become surety for; applied to a person.

_Baron Courts._

Su. G. _borg-a_, id.

_To_ BORROW _one_, to urge one to drink, Ang.

When one _pledges_ another in company, he engages to drink after him; and in ancient times it was generally understood, that he who pledged another, was engaged to drink an equal quantity.

BORROWGANGE, s. A state of suretyship.

_Reg. Maj._

Su. G. _edgaang_, _laggaang_, are rendered by Ihre, actus jurandi, from _gaa_, ire; _borrowgange_ may thus be merely the act of _going_ or _entering_ as a surety.

BORD, _s._

1. A broad hem or welt, S.

2. The edge or border of a woman's cap, S.

Fr. _bord_, Belg. _boord_, a welt, a hem, or selvage; Isl. _bard_,
_bord_, the extremity or margin.

BORDEL, _s._ A brothel, Dunbar.

Fr. _bordel_, id., Su. G. A. S. _bord_, a house. The dimin. of this, Ihre says, was L. B. _bordell-um_, _bordil-e_, tuguriolum, cujus generis quum olim meretricum stabula essent.

BORDELLAR, _s._ A haunter of brothels.

_Bellenden._

BORE, _s._ A crevice.

V. ~Bor~.

BORE'S- (or BOAR'S) EARS, _s. pl._ The name given to the Auricula, S. B. Primula auricula, Linn.

A bear is called a _boar_, S., especially S. B.

BORE-TREE, _s._ Sambucus nigra.

V. ~Bourtree~.

BOREAU, _s._ An executioner.

V. ~Burio~.

BORGH, _s._ A surety.

V. ~Borch~.

BORN.

_Wallace._

_Born_ may have some affinity to Isl. _borgun_, Su. G. _borgen_,
suretyship; q. one under contract or obligation.

BORROWING DAYS, the three last days of March, Old Stile, S.

_Complaynt S._

These days being generally stormy, our forefathers have endeavoured to account for this circumstance, by pretending that March _borrowed_ them from April, that he might extend his power so much longer. Those who are much addicted to superstition will neither borrow nor lend on any of these days; lest the articles borrowed should be employed for the purposes of witchcraft, against the lenders. Some of the vulgar imagine, that these days received their designation from the conduct of the Israelites in _borrowing_ the property of the Egyptians.

BOS, BOSS, BOIS, _adj._

1. Hollow, S.

_Douglas._

"A _boss_ sound," that which is emitted by a body that is hollow, S.

2. Empty. A shell, without a kernel, is said to be _boss_. The word is also used to denote the state of the stomach when it is empty, or after long abstinence, S.

_Morison._

3. In the same sense, it is metaph. applied to a weak or ignorant person. One is said to be "nae _boss_ man," who has a considerable share of understanding, S. B.

_Ramsay._

4. Poor, destitute of worldly substance, S. B.

Teut. _bosse_, umbo.

_Ross._

BOSS, BOCE, _s._ Any thing hollow.

_Burel._

_The boss of the side_, the hollow between the ribs and the haunch, S.

BOSS, BOISS, _s._

1. A small cask.

_Pitscottie._

2. It seems to denote a bottle, perhaps one of earthen ware; such as is now vulgarly called a _gray-beard_.

_Dunbar._

3. In pl. _bosses_, _boisses_, a term of contempt, conjoined with _auld_, and applied to persons of a despicable or worthless character.

_Knox._

From Fr. _boire_, to drink, whence _boisson_, drink, or _busse_, a
cask for holding wines.

BOT, _conj._ But, often confounded with _but_, prep. signifying, without.

_Douglas._

A. S. _butan_, _buton_, are used precisely as S. _but_, without.

BOTAND, BUT-AND, _prep._ Besides.

_Percy._

BOTAND, _adv._

1. But if, except.

_Barbour._

2. Moreover, besides.

_Maitland Poems._

In the latter sense, it is from A. S. _butan_, praeter.

BOTCARD, s. A sort of artillery used in S. in the reign of Ja. V.

_Pitscottie._

The same instruments seem to be afterwards called _battars_, ib. Fr. _bastarde_, "a demie canon, or demie culverin; a smaller piece of any kind," Cotgr.

BOTE, BUTE, _s._

1. Help, advantage; E. _boot_, Doug.

2. Compensation, satisfaction; Acts Parl. pass.

A. S. _bote_, id. from _bet-an_, emendare, restaurare.

~Kin-bote~, compensation or "assithment for the slaughter of a kinsman;" Skene, Verb. Sign.

A. S. _cyn_, cognatio, and _bote_.

~Man-bot~, the compensation fixed by the law, for killing a man, according to the rank of the person. Ibid.

A. S. _man-bot_, id.

~Theift-bote~, compensation made to the king for theft.

_Reg. Maj._

BOTHE, BOOTH, BUITH, _s._ A shop made of boards; either fixed, or portable, S.

V. ~Lucken~.

_Douglas._

Hence the _Luckenbooths_ of Edinburgh, wooden shops, made for being _locked_ up. Teut. _boede_, _bode_, domuncula, casa, Kilian; Su. G. _bud_, taberna mercatorum, apotheca; Isl. _bud_, id.

BOTHIE, BOOTHIE, _s._ A cottage, often used to denote a place where labouring servants are lodged, S.

_Neill._

Su. G. _bod_, a house, a cottage; Gael. _bothag_, _bothan_, a cot.

_To_ BOTHER, BATHER, _v. a._ To teaze one by dwelling on the same subject, or by continued solicitation, S.

BOTHNE, BOTHENE, _s._

1. A park in which cattle are fed and inclosed.

_Skene._

2. A barony, lordship, or sheriffdom.

_Assis. Reg. Dav._