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: 1385-1678
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Borowis, Borrowis, n. pl.1 Also: borowys, borovis, borou(i)s, borwis, bourous; borrowys, borrows, -ous, -os; burrowis, burrows. [e.m.E. borows, borrows, ME. borowes, bor(e)wes, early bor(e)ȝes, OE. borᵹas pl. of borᵹ, borh Borch, with normal change of ȝ to w in ME.] Pledges, sureties.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxviii. 161.
He … borowis alsua for hyme fande 1385 Rotuli Sc. II. 73/2.
All prisoners … sall be frely deliverid and all thair borous frethit 1397 Acts I. 208/1.
He that apperis nocht … his borous sal pay the payn 1398 Ib. 212/1.
Biddand thaim … fynd borows to the said statut 1416 Maxwell Mem. I. 149.
The said Sir Robert findand hym borowys for the said male at his awne chose 1424 Acts II. 4/1.
That thai … fynde borowis bath till assithe the kyng and the party plenȝeande 1463 Lennox Mun. 77.
To find … sikkir borowis of lordis and landit men 1463 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 575 B.
We that ar ful borwis & dettouris for al the forsaid sowmis 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 16.
The balȝeis … sal … find borovis to content the communite withtin xv dais 1495 Bk. Carlaverock II. 450.
Borowis and colrathis for to fynde 1502 Criminal Trials I. 30.
A dome in falt of borowis 1535 Stewart 35719.
Tha fand borowis … to be leill(b) 1410 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 31.
The parteis … withdrawand thaim … fyndis borrowis of thair entre as custum is 1476 Acts Lords Auditors 41/1.
Breking of borrous of peax c1515 Asloan MS I. 217/27.
Nychole of Borthuik and Iames of Crechtoun war wnder burrowis to the schiref 1505 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 91.
Duncan Thomsone fand borrowis in the hands of Thomas Bisset … that [etc.] 1523 Carnwath Baron Ct. 8 b.
To releif thaim of the borrowis that thai war for Ihon Somerwell 1551 Hamilton Catechism 190.
The godfather and godmother … ar maid borrowis or souerteis for the barne 1555 Protocol Book of Sir William Corbet 21.
Thai … requirit be vertue of lawe the said meill to be lattyn to borros xv. dayis and thai sould fynd tham cautionearis 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.
The partie accused … sall finde sicker borrowes to … content the partie compleinand 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. (1699) 27.
Their goods should be put under sicker burrows, id est caution1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. 67.
When two persons were at fead, and … hath found borrows to one another
b. A matter or case of suretyship.1447 (1450) Reg. Great S. 71/1.
Al maner of brevis and borowis to execute
c. In the borrows, under a pledge or obligation.1637 Rutherford Lett. xix (1862) I. 80.
It cannot stand with His honour to die in the borrows (as we use to say) and lose thee
