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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.

Burdoun, Burdon(e, n. Also: burdun, -down(e, bowrdoune; bourdon. [ME. burdoun, burdon (a 1300), OF. bourdon.]

1. A stout staff, a cudgel.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 5700.
Thai all twelff folowand, Ilkane a gud burdowne [C. burdone] in hand 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 365.
For vj ax schaftis and ane burdoun 1508 Ib. IV. 121.
For tua rede burdounis maid of tua mastis a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 431.
Thow has thy clamschellis and thy burdoun [M. burdun] kelde 1513 Doug. vii. ix. 11 (Sm).
Wyth ane bowrdoune of ane lang styf tre 1535 Stewart 48638.
Thair scheildis raif and mony burdoun brak c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 445; Ib. 531.
Weill accowterit in thair geir, And in thair handis strang burdounis a1540 Freiris Berw. 554.
With his burdoun he hit him on the nek 15.. Sym & Br. 13.
Thay maid thame burdownis nocht to bow, Twa bewis of the birk(b) ?1438 Alex. ii. 254.
Ȝon ald man … that leanes him on ȝon burdone 1513 Doug. iii. x. 7.
With hys burdon, that wes a gret fyr tre, Fermand his steppis Ib. v. vii. 69; etc.
He hes … Twa kempys burdonys brocht 1535 Stewart 31841.
Thair burdonis big, that stalwart war and strang a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxvi. 43.
Syn but deuotioun furth fall And feinȝe me ane pardonar With bag and burdone full bayr 1618 Lithgow 26.
My haire-cloath gowne, my burdon, and my bagge

b. Be staff and burdoun: cf. Baston n. b. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 367.
Iohne Balliol … resignit all richt and titill … to the croun of Scotland, be staf and burdoun in king Edwardis handis 1543 Inverness Sheriff Ct. MS. 15.
Jhone Vaus … owirgiffis be staff & burdoun … all persute [etc.] 1576 Prot. Bk. A. Gibson 27 b.
He hes resignit … the said land … in the handis of Patrik Inglis … be. staff and burdone

2. Attrib. with spere, staf. 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 389.
For ane blak burdoun spere 1603 Elgin Rec. II. 109.
The strainger sturdie beggaris quho … haid mekill poll bourdon stavis with fork headis of irone