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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1651
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Boist, Boyst, n. Also: bost, bouste, booste. [ME. boiste, boyste, OF. boiste (F. boîte) . See also Buist.]
1. A small box, used for containing ointment, spices, confects, etc.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvi. 294.
Scho has brocht A boyst of oyle 1490 Irland Mir. I. 145/26.
As the balme or precius wnȝement, als lang as it is includit in the boist makis na gret sauour, but eftir the boist be opynnit [etc.] 1490 Ib. MS. 167 b.
The sacramentis are the boistis contenand the hevinly liquor 1493 Acts Lords of Council 284/1.
A spise boist of siluer 1506 Treasurer's Accounts III. 342.
Ane boyst of confectis a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 7.
Haill, boist of balme c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matt. xxvi. 7.
A woman that had a boist [Wycl. box] of alabastre of precious onyement 1539 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 184.
Ane boist of annet comfeit 1581 Misc. Spald. C. V. 53.
Four boistis of confectiounis succur 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 331.
xij boistis scrochertis and confectis 1608 Wedderburn Compt Bk. 115.
I propynit the Laird of Kynnard ... with my tren trunscheouris and boyst(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xvi. 111.
A bouste of precius vngument a1400 Ib. xxxi. 290.
He … gert bryng oyle … & in a bost it gef hyr sone1629 Boyd Last B. 195.
What is it that hath his stomacke into a booste, and his eyes into his pocket? It is ... an olde man fedde with booste confectionsa1651 Calderwood II. 33.
Keeping of bread in boxes or boostes
2. A box or receptacle for other uses, e.g. a cuppingbox, an alms box, a burial urn. (See quots.)c 1420 Liber Calchou 450.
Be thu ventosyd on the thé with a boyst c 1420 Ib. 451.
Be ventosyt betwex the schulderis with boystis 1451 Acts II. 40/2.
That the master of the moné sal ansuere for al gold and siluer that salbe strikyn … & put it in his boist 1525 Treasurer's Accounts V. 254.
Item, to the blak freris boyst, gevin xiiij s. 1531 Master of Works Accounts II. 5.
Ane grete bund plait & boist to ane of the forsaid lychtis 1533 Boece III. xx. 121.
Romanis placit the powder of his body in ane vrne or boist within the tempill 1535 Stewart 50905.
The pretius bodie … of oure Lord, … Out of the bost so lichtlie as tha flang, And left it bair and tuke awa the bost [: ost]1540 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 397.
Ane boist to keip hoistis in 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 356.
Ane boist … to keip the lettres that wes producit befoir the lords 1616 Wedderburn Compt Bk. 105.
My boyst of ben [= bone] for tobacco
