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: 1542-1578, 1650-1651
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Bouster, Bowster, v. Also: p.p. bouistrit. [f. Bouster,n. Cf. e.m.E. bolster (1508).]
1. tr. To stuff or pad out. 1542 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 76.
Four elnis quhite plaid to bouster the velvet witht 1551 Ib. X. 37.
Tway elnis bukcrame to bouster thir gounis with 1561 Ib. XI. 84.
lxiij elnis of blak gray to lyne thair cottis and bouster thair hois 1567 Ib. MS. 275.
xvj elnis of manteling to bowster the samyn
2. fig. To puff up; to instigate or back up. a 1568 Satirical Poems xlvii. 4.
Bowstert with pryd, and blindit with ambitioun 1570 Ib. xxiv. 27.
Bot thow, vaine bable, bouistrit up in pryde a1578 Pitsc. I. 53/21.
Persaiffing the chancelar boustert wpe and steirit wpe be his freindis to his heavy damnage a1651 Calderwood VIII. 276.
Arran drew in Bothwell, and bowstered him up against Manderstoun
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"Bouster v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/bouster_v>
