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.
Bowall, Bowell, n. Also: bowel, bewell, boill, boal. [Of obscure origin; perhaps a variant of Eng. bevel. Surviving in mod. dial. as bole.] A recess in a wall; in later use esp. a small recess in the wall of a room serving as a receptacle or place of deposit; a small cupboard. Also attrib. with gavil.(a) 1515 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 171.
Ita quod dictus murus angularis … erit communis, in wlgari le bowall gawyll 1558 Glasgow Prot. II. 58.
It sall nocht be lefull … to haif nayne maner of esyamentis in the saidis gavile, nowlder bowall nor chymnay 1565 Perth B. Ct. 175.
Ane aisment and closat with ane bowall with dur & dur cheikis on the said closat fassinit in the wall of the said dike 1569 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 88.
Thair haid bein ane bowall on the south syd of the said kirk ȝard dyk quhilk was bigit vpe of befoir 1576 Crim. Trials I. 61.
Finding the said Ladye oppining ane lockit bowall a 1600 Aberd. B. Rec. (J).
All fyir that cumis in the kirk to be keepit in the bowall in the wall 1646 Stirling B. Rec. I. 190.
Anent the Holland gudlingis … to be put up … in the tounes bowall in the counsal hous(b) 1556 Prot. Bk. J. Robeson 144.
We partisaris foirsaidis … condempnand ane bowell in the bak sidwall of the south bak land 1562–3 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 180.
Twa laidis lyme to big up certane windoks and bewellis c 1563 Reg. Panmure I. p. cxliii.
Ane lytil dore … , quhilk beine biggit wpe … , is nowe in the forme of ane bowel 1565–6 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 506.
Ane dosoun of greitt dailles to mak the skelfis, almoreis and bowellis in the heycht loft of the Tolbuith 1578 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 28.
Aucht thowsand merkis … now being in my charter hows within the bowell thairof 1595 Duncan Appendix.
Riscus, a bowell, or bonet caisse 1632 Stirling B. Rec. I. 168.
The copye of the toun of Edinburghis great infeftment … to be putt in the counsall bowell 1682 Ellon Presb. 230.
Ane bowel in the hall chimnay(c) 1667 Stirling B. Rec. II. 2.
The seale [to be put up] in the boill of the counsell hous 1674 Ib. 15.
Which ordour is delivered to the dean of gild and convener to be putt in the boill 1717 Ib. 153.
Ane principall disposition be the Earle of Mar … to be putt up … in the boal or ambrie in the old councill hous
