Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Baldness, Bauldnes, n. Also: bauldeness. [ME. boldnes (1330), -nesse, etc.] Boldness, confidence.(a) c1520-c1535 Nisbet N. T. III. 333/29 (baldness, traist, confidence). 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 39 (the quenis factione tuke baldnes vpoun thaim to … ). 1596 Dalr. I. 96/22 (the mair may thair baldnes be tramped out). 1607 Highland P. III. 102 (craving pardoun for this my baldnes).(b) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 107/3 (thocht in bauldnes hir bow [be] all bent). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 50/27 (in maist praesumptuows bauldnes); II. 17/30 (be bauldnes of ingyne). 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 361 (takand the grittar bauldnes). a1578 Pitsc. II. 250/24 (the gret bauldnes and manheid of bayth the syddis). 1593 Acts IV. 43/1 (sornaris ar growin to sic bauldnes that … ). 1622 Elgin Rec. I. 241 (evill disposit personis takis bauldnes to offend).