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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.

Bolt, Bowt, n.¹ Also: bollt, boult, bout. [ME. and OE. bolt. In OE. only once, in sense 1.]

1. A short heavy arrow. Also fig.(a) c1420 Wynt. i. 198.
He wes the fyrste at schot in bowe Wyth vyre or bolt or wyth arowe 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 48.
iv dusane of boltis and ij dusane of ganȝis a1500 Henr. Fab. 752.
Upon this wame set wer ane bolt full meit 1504 Treas. Acc. II. 466.
For tua dosane barrit boltis for the King, xvjs. Item, for xii blont boltis, iijs 1512 Ib. IV. 327.
Ane dussone barrit boltis 1525–6 Ib. V. 255.
iv dousan boulttis a1500 Peblis to Play 54.
Ane ȝoung man … With ane bow and ane bolt a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxviii. 33.
Neuer a dairt So persit my hairt As dois the bolt Quhilk luif me schot c1590 J. Stewart 24/345.
With boult and bow … Quhan till assault he lustilie began(b) 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I. 45.
Gevin to the boware that makis the Kingis bowtis, for v dussane of bowtis, xv s. 1538 Ib. VII. 39.
vj dousoun of braid bowtis witht chesellis 15.. Berdok 21.
He fure our se and land … And nane with him bot ane bow and ane bowtt 15.. Christis K. 124.
He etlit the berne ewin in the breist, The bout flew our the byre

2. A bolt for fastening.(a) 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 203.
For mending of thre irn boltis 1512 Ib. IV. 458.
Stapillis, slottis and boltis 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 285.
For making of … irne wark in bolts to the irne hous 1555 Ib. 295.
For making of twa bolltis of irne of ane greit brokin bout 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 97.
To ȝet the boltis of the pulpet 1565–6 Ib. I. 507.
Ane bolt and tua cleikis to hing the liddis(b) 1540 Ayr Common Good Acc. MS.
For mending of the firlot & putting of ane bowt to it 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 320.
The stok garnesit with over and neddir bandis of irne and sex irn bowttis throw the same 1613 Soc. Ant. X. 222.
To James Layng, smytht, for boutis, … ringis and vther iron work 1629 M. Works Acc. XXI. 44.
Ane great bout new maid for the stokis of the ordinance