A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Bellit, Belt, a. [Northern ME. bellyde, var. of ME. ballyd, balled, ballede (c 1300), of uncertain origin. Cf. Beld a.]
1. Of persons: Bald.a1447 Bower Chron. II. 374.
For thi crisp kell, and fair hair, all bellit sal thou be 1492 Myll Spect. 291.
This theif … was bellit & wantit baith his eris c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Cor. xi. 5.
It is aan as gif scho ware bellit [Wycl. pollid]
2. Of horses or cattle: Having a white mark or blaze.1529 M. Works Acc. I. 11.
To Jhone Purves … for a blak bellit hors to the cart 1577 Edinb. Test. V. 150 b.
Ane staig blak bellit tua ȝeir auld 1584 Ib. XIV. 12 b.
Ane blak belt meir of xv ȝeir auld 1591 Ib. XXII. 308.
Ane bellit kow 1628 Dumfries Test. I. a. 165 b.
Of the quhilk kay thair is twa of them halkit and bellit and the rest broune