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.
Bodword, n. Also: bodeworde, boid-, boydword; bodward(e, -wart, -wird. [Northern ME. bodword (also eastern), bodeword, possibly after ON. boðorð.] A message, announcement, report.(a) 1375 Barb. xv. 423.
Of this avow soyne bodword was Brocht till schir Iames of Douglas a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 92.
For thu trewis nocht To this bodword I the brocht Ib. l. 627.
Sic bodword till hym cumine was c1450-2 Howlat 729.
Haile blist throw the bodword [B. bod wird] of blyth angellis! c1475 Wall. ii. 344.
He spak with him, syne fast agayne can pres With glaid bodword, thar myrthis till amend a1500 Rauf C. 902.
Bodword haue I brocht a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 55, etc.
I sall boid-word, but abaid, bring to you heir 1513 Doug. vii. v. 4; etc.
Eneas messyngeris … Of peax and concord bodword brocht agane Ib. x. ix. 2.
Nane incertane rumour … Bot sovyr boydword … of this gret myschance 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2nd Ser. III. 10.
Sending diverse fearefull bodwords unto him(b) a1500 Doug. K. Hart 265.
He said he suld be spy, and bodwart bring, … how that his maister fure Ib. 414.
Blythnes wes first brocht bodwarde to the hall 1535 Stewart 29244.
The messingeris that thame the bodwart brocht a1568 Bann. MS. 220 a/48.
Of all my panis scho may me weill relesche With breif in bill or bodwart send agane 1600-1610 Melvill 376.
Having sic bludie bodwarts coming to us from Court continuallie
