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: 1558-1687
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Banefire, Benfire, n. Also: bane-, bain-, baynefyre; bean-, beane-, beeane-, bein-, bene-, benfyre, benfyr. Also anglicized variants; bonefire, bonefyre, boanfyre, boonefyre, bondfyre, bonyfire. [Northern ME. banefyre (1483), late ME. bonefyre; f. Bane n.1] A large fire in the open air, originally one made with bones of animals.(a) 1558 Treasurer's Accounts X. 365.
For bigging of ane banefire … upoun midsomer evin a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xv. 20.
Euirilk man ȝow prayis To mak bainfyris 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 100.
Banefyris wer sett furth … for joy 1581 Acts III. 212/2.
The dregges of Idolatrie ȝit remanis in diuers pairtes of the realme … in setting furth of bain fyris, singing of caroles [etc.] 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 331.
The banefyre maid … upoun the Craigis at hir Maiestieis hame cuming 1594 Ib. 109.
[The council] fynds it expedient that the haill bellis … be rung at aynes, and baynefyres sett furth throw the haill toun 1602 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 993.
If ther be any superstitious dayes keipit, be setting out of banefires(b) 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 536.
To crave that ane Act of Parliament may be made aganis them that setts out beanfyres for superstitioun 1591 Elgin Rec. II. 17.
Thame that war summonit to this day anent the onbigging of bein and Petir fyiris to be agane summonit 1603 Moysie 70.
To mak beeanefyres on the toppes of hilis 1603 Ib. 113.
Beanefyres wer set out, and dancing and playing vsit in all pairtes 1605 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 278.
That euerie maister of houshold within this burght hawe bene fyris befoir thair yettis and doiris 1625 Ann. Banff II. 25.
It wes found that no beane fyres wer set up 1651 Lamont Diary 27.
Ther were many beane fyres sett foorth in token of ioy(c) 1587 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 721.
Superstitious ceremonies, pilgrimages to Chrysts well, fasting, … benfyres, girdles, carrells, and such lyke 1596 Dalr. II. 241/19.
Sygnes of thair mirrines thairfoir out tha schew: sum be bygeng on of benfyres 1600 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 211.
Benfyris sal be maid that nicht 1661–2 Irvine Mun. II. 264.
A choppein wyn, two dozen glesses att the benfyrs 1671 Wodrow MSS. 4to XXXVIII. No. 7.
They ... cut collops of them and took them to ther benfyris(d) 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk. III. 874.
Superstitioun … in keiping of festuall dayis, and boonefyres a1605 Birrel Diary 25.
At night the toune ves putt full of bonefyres 1659–60 Peebles B. Rec. II. 200.
Payd for what was spent on bone-fyre day 1666 Lamont Diary 241.
Shooting of cannon and bony-fires 1672 Elgin Rec. I. 315.
That … the counsell … goe throwe the toune as formerlie without bond fyres 1683 Lanark B. Rec. 217.
That upon the tuentie nynt of Maij ther be boanfyres putt furth be the haill inhabitants 1685 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 580.
To William Couan for ane bonefire upon the 29 of May 1687 Ib.
To William Cowan for bondfyres at several solemn occasions
