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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.

Blede, Bleid, v. Also: bled, bleyd; p.t. bled, blede, blead, bledded; p.p. blead. [ME. blede (e.m.E. bleede), OE. blédan.]

1. intr. To discharge blood; to run with blood.a1400 Leg. S. ii. 690 (to bled of myn armis twa). c1420 Wynt. vii. 2011 (sua fast it bled). 1456 Hay I. 58/25 (the brede bled). c1475 Wall. v. 69 (mony bledand wondyr sar); 82 (feill Sothroun gert thai bleid). a1500 Seven S. 1561 (that scho mycht bleid alsmekle agane). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxiii. 78 (beft him quhill he bled). 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 229 (Williame & his wyf bleydand). 1535 Stewart 12732 (of his blude thai gart him bleid). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1355 (his woundis bled sa). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 37/19 (scho causit hir face to bleid). a1578 Pitsc. II. 157/14 (I will not see him bleid). c1615 Chron. Kings 79 (quhill he blead to deithe).fig. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 169/35 (for oure synnis mak our hartis bleid). 1567 Sat. P. iv. 97 (quhat hairt so hard for petie will not bleid?). 1596 Dalr. I. 110/30 (sal I gar this wound bleid agane?).

2. Of blood: To flow.c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1136 (of wyrgyne bloode that blede that tyd). c1500 Fyve Bestis 241 (it bledis at my hart).

3. tr. To let (one's own blood) flow.c1450-2 Howlat 536 (for it bled he his blud). c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxvi. 37 (as he bled his blude vpon a tre). 1535 Stewart 50154 (for ws bleidand his blude).

4. To cause to bleed; to draw blood from (a person or animal).1664 Melrose R. Rec. II. 110 (he nether stroak nor bled the said defender). 1703 Foulis Acc. Bk. 325 (for bleiding the beld horse).

5. intr. To draw blood, spec. as a surgeon.c 1420 Liber Calchou 450 (blede of the fute on the samyn syd). 1456 Hay II. 132/25 (blede nocht but on grete necessitee); Ib. 135/1. 1655 Logie Par. Hist. I. 107.
The said Mr. George latelie did streik and bleid on Lodowick Menteath