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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.

Burrowis, Burowis, n. pl. Also: burowys, -(o)ws; burrowes, -ows, -ou(y)s, -ovis; burroyis, -ois, burris. [e.m.E. and late ME. burrowes, ME. burwes, buruȝes, pl. of buruȝ, burȝ Burch n. See also Borowis n. pl. ² and Bourowis.]

1. Boroughs, towns; also, burgesses collectively.(a) 1389 Liber Melros 449.
The burows of Edynburgh, Hadynton and Dunbarre 1402 Dundee Chart. No. 22.
The burowys of Perth … and of Dunde c1420 Wynt. viii. 2135 (C).
Off castellis, burowis, and forteleis 1424 Lanark & R. 282.
The quhilks xxiiij of the forsayd burws [etc.] Ib.
The fredome of bath the burws 1469 Acts II. 95/1.
The electione of alderman, bailȝis, and vtheris officiaris of burowis 1482 Edinb. Chart. 167.
Of ilk freman of all the kingis burowis … iiij d. 1496 Acta Conc. II. 13.
In the burowis of Edinburgh, Perth or Aire(b) 1449 Reg. Episc. Glasg. 370.
Our said burroyis of Renfrew, Ruglen or ony other burrowys of eschaet 1478 Acta Conc. 20/1.
Ay and quhill the said dome be discussit in the court of foure burrowis 1533 Boece ii. vi. 69 b.
Leiffing thare landis, villagis and burrowis without store or vthir plennyssing 1545 Reg. Privy C. I. 6.
The provostis, aldermen and ballies of burrowis 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 317.
Quhen the commissars of burrowis convenit in the tolbuyth 1570 Sat. P. xii. 149.
Gif ȝe byde, the burrowis will commend ȝow Ib. xix. 58.
Ȝe burrowis, murne and regrait his fall a1578 Pitsc. I. 203/2.
Because they knew the king to be well lowit witht all the commons and burrowis 1594 Acts IV. 80.
All statutes of his hienes burrowis within this realme 1601–2 Misc. Spald. C. V. 129.
The soume of twa hundreth punds, auchtand be the burrowis to thair generall agent 1615 Highland P. III. 228.
Ansueris gevin in be the burrowis … to the missiue bill send to thame 1622-6 Bisset I. 13/17.
Anentis the chesing of magistrattis … within burrowes 1660 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 195.
Conforme to the … decret arbitrall and act of burrowes above writin 1676 Glasgow Chart. II. 190.
If the saids guids should be apprehendit within any of the saids royall burrous 1689 Glasgow B. Rec. 420.
Mr. Iohn Buchan, ajent to the burrowes(c) 1522 Treas. Acc. V. 201.
Prouests, aldirmen and baillies of burrois 1533 Conv. Burghs I. 513.
That all the burrois within this realme sall send thair commissaris to this toun 1539 Ib. 516.
The burrois of this realme havand thair staipill in Antuerpe 1558 Inverness B. Rec. I. 17.
He auch nocht to be … enterit thairto, becaus he is nocht his sowne and ayr … as vse of burrois is Ib.
Conforme to the actis of burris [sic] 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 65.
In the assemblie and conventioun of burrois haldin the said day