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: 1549-1623
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Boulene, Bouling, n. Also: bollene, bolyn, bowling. [e.m.E. boulin, bolin, bowling, ME. bowe-, bawelyne, bouline, F. bouline, of Germanic origin.] A bowline. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 40/29.
The maistir quhislit and cryit, … hail out the bollene 1549 Ib. 32.
Hail out the main sail boulene a1570-86 Shaw Maitland Folio MS cxlvi. 6.
Giff chynges the wynd, on force ȝe mon Bolyn, huke, haik and schete hale on a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii. 141.
Out with your boulings. The wind is south south west c1614 Mure Dido i. 280.
Some the maine bouling hale, some tacklings slacks ? 1623 Bannatyne MS 210 b.
Fra ȝe feill ȝour bowling once begin To mak forfalded flapping on the mast
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"Boulene n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/boulene>
