Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BOOST, BEEST, BUIST, Büst, v.² Also budst (Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Gall. Gossip 160). Must, ought (used of moral or logical necessity). Orig. 3rd sing. pres. indic. of an impers. verb, but now extended to all persons and other tenses. Buist is more common in I.Sc. and boost in s.Sc. See also Bude. [bust Sc.; byst em.Sc.(a), em.Sc.(b) and wm.Sc. + bɪst, sm.Sc., s.Sc.; bøst I.Sc. + bɪst, sn.Sc.; bist mn.Sc. and nn.Sc.]Sc. 1832–1846 T. Dick in Whistle-Binkie, (2nd Series 1842) 10:
Baith merchants and customers boost stand abeigh, No ane wad she look at but Ronald Macgiech.Sc. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae the French 62:
Syne he jalous't that there boost surely be Some vera secret en' in view.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Sh. Fireside Tales (1892) 247:
An' büst hae her tae [tea] four times a-day.Cai. 1932 “Caithness Forum” in John o' Groat Jnl. (25 Nov.):
Anither neebour wanted a gricie an' he beest til hev'e strong chiel.m.Sc. 1838 A. Rodger Poems, etc. 253:
O had we but ta'en care langsyne, . . . But na — we boost to dash sae fine Aboon our level.Slg. 1808 W. Watson Misc. Sc. Poetry 62:
Waesucks! I boost gae an' lae them.Gall. 1929 Bauldy at the Toll Bar Shop in Gallovidian 82:
Some say it's no' true, but if ye look oot o' the windy ye'll see the Provost's flag still fleein', so it buist be true.