An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language Part 96

An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language Part 96

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 circ.u.mstance, by pretending that March _borrowed_ them from April, that he might extend his power so much longer. Those who are much addicted to superst.i.tion 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 sh.e.l.l, 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, dest.i.tute 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.