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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bow, Bowe, n.¹ Also: bov, bou. [ME. bow, bowe, early boȝe, OE. boᵹa, ON. boge, bogi. See also Boll n.³]

1. A bow for shooting with.For other examples see Arrow n.; also Cors-bow, Hand-bow. 1375 Barb. v. 595.
I haf a bow, bot and a vyre Ib. 603.
He tit the bow out of his hand a1400 Leg. S. v. 477.
The ȝunge man than his bov bent syne Ib. 481.
Tharfor he his bow vnbent 1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 85/2.
Men folwand thar gudes … withut spere or bowe c1420 Wynt. i. 208.
He dang hym wytht hys bowe to dede Ib. vii. 3424.
With swerdys, sperys, and wyth bowys 1429 Acts II. 18/2.
The ȝeman that is nane archer na can nocht deyll with a bow sall haif … suerde & buklar [etc.] 1462 Peebles B. Rec. 149.
He has payt for his fredom a bow and a schefe to the toun a1500 Henr. Fab. 22.
Ane bow that is ay bent Worthis vnsmart and dullis on the string 1491 Acts II. 226/2.
That … for comoun gude & defence of the realme be hantit bowis schvting 1513 Doug. ix. x. 77.
Hys bow with horsis sennonys bend hes he 1518 Glenartney Doc.
Stalking and slaying of dere … with bowis 15.. Christis K. 76 (84).
He forgit it so fowriously, The bow in flenderis flew 1567 Inverness B. Rec. I. 152.
He lent … Johne Gollan ane bowe of ewe price xiij s. iiij d., … quhilk bowe … the said Johne will nocht mak payment offig. a1578 Pitsc. II. 122/28.
Thay … eschaiped with thair lywes narrowlie betuix the bow and the string a1605 Montg. Son. lv. 1.
Hir brouis, tuo bouis of ebane ever bent

b. A bowman, archer. 1481 Acts II. 140/1.
That the tane half of the said wageouris salbe speiris, and the tother half bowis a1578 Pitsc. I. 193/15.
Captaine of ane thousand bowis of ordinance Ib. 205/11.
Ane thousand gentillmen weill horssit, … ane thowsand bowis

2. An arch, esp. of a bridge.In Edinburgh spec. the arched gateways called the Over and Nether Bow, mentioned in the Reg. Great Seal as arcus superior (1425) and arcus inferior (1472).(1) 1471 Edinb. Chart. 140.
Fra the Frere Wynd to the Netherbow Ib. 141.
Sic like gudis that suld be weyit to be vsit at the Ouer Bow 1513 Doug. vi. x. 10.
Eik I behald, … Tha portis with thar stalwart bow or brace 1520 Edin. B. Rec. I. 201.
That nane pas outwith the Bow … to met the said corne 1540 Lynd. Sat. 160 (B).
Thay callit my mvder bony Bes, That dwelt betwene the bowis 1558-66 Knox II. 222.
First, in the throt of the Bow, war slane David Kirk [etc.] 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 176.
Having certane hagbuttaris lyand aboue, betwixt and the bow 1603 Moysie 70.
He gat presence in the chancelleris ludging betuix the bowis(2) c1420 Wynt. viii. 2889 (W).
Ane arche of full faire werk … The Bischop Walter gert mak syne; And vndir that bow lyis he 1555 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 294.
The haill toun … ordanis Maister Robert Lumisden … to big the said brig of twa bowis, sufficiently with stane and lyme a1578 Pitsc. II. 312/6.
Quhen it come to Sanct Johnstoun brig it buir away thrie bowis thairof 1596 Dalr. I. 17/14.
The brig [of Glasgow] … haveng 8 bowis is ane gret delectatione to the lukeris vpon it 1610 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 300.
The wast bow of the said brig Ib.
The mid pillar betuixt the tua bowis 1621 Perth Kirk S. 298.
The brig of Tay was hailly dung down, except only one bow thereof standing 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II. 17.
Which … lyme the toune hes resolvit to imploy for building ane stone brig of ane bow 1681 Irvine Mun. II. 294.
The casing [= causeying] of the new bowe of the bridg

3. The bow of a yoke. See also ox(in) bow. 1535 Stewart 44493.
Neuir ane ox wes ȝokkit into bow 1598 Edinb. Test. XXXI. 324 b.
Thrie furneist ȝokis with irne someis and bowis

4. The curved handle of a pot. (Cf. Bowit a.)