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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.

Boun, Bown, v. Also: bun. [e.m.E. bowne, ME. boune, bune (Cursor M.), f. Boun a. See also Bound v. Chiefly, and in early use exclusively, in verse.]

1. intr. To get ready, prepare (to do something). c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2852.
Than thocht hime at that ymage gay Bonned to pas frome hime away c1475 Wall. i. 364.
In Aperill fra him he bownd to wend Ib. iii. 310.
Schir Ranald bownyde vpon the morne … Wallace to seke 1479 Peebles B. Rec. 183.
Becaus … Sir Willyam bownit and schup to trawall in other contries a1500 Seven S. 66.
Thai … Thankit the lord and bownit to faire a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 474.
Boun with thé to haue a fals botwand 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 97.
I crosyt me, syne bownyt forto sleip Ib. xiii. Prol. 46.
Euery thing … Bownys to tak the hailsum nychtis rest 1535 Stewart 16955.
Tha bownit baldlie in battell to byde Ib. 53356.
As tha war bownand for to pas thair wa 1560 Rolland Seven S. 322/32.
The time of day drew neir all bownit to dine a1568 Scott xvi. 47.
So bissely to busk I boun a1570-86 J. Maitland M. Fol. lxxxviii. 52.
Thai sweir ȝe feill ane string and bownis to brek it

2. To make ready to go; to set out, take one's course. a1400 Leg. S. v. 62.
He saw a cors … That ser men … War bownand furth it to enter c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2712.
Pirrus bowned to Delphos yle c1450-2 Howlat 302.
Thai … bownis out of Babulone with all obediens Ib. 508.
He bownyt till a batall a1500 Rauf C. 398.
Gar thame boun to this burgh c1475 Wall. ii. 336.
Towart the burd he bowned Ib. iii. 311.
He him fand bownand to his dyner c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxx. 17.
God gif thé blis quhair euir thow bownes 1513 Doug. ii. viii. 69.
All the fensabill men … Bownys our the wallis Ib. x. viii. 38.
Turnus bownys towartis his aduersar Ib. 46.
Formast he bownys to the jonyng place 1525 Acta Conc. MS. XXXV. 185.
The Cristofre … bownand in the partis of this realme, was reft and spulȝeit 1535 Stewart 278.
On to the se he bownit sone agane Ib. 1396.
Till Yrland syne [thai] bownit hes but baid c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6312.
The blysfull byrdis bownis to the treis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 102/2.
Vnto his hous this burges bownit hame a1578 Pitsc. I. 355/6.
He draist him haistale and bunde to France Ib. II. 125/10.
Eviry man bownit to his bed 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 563.
Bot ȝit, or he bound to the read [etc.]

b. tr. (with way as object). a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1349.
The renkis rial of array Bownyt hame thair way

3. refl. To prepare or betake oneself. 1375 Barb. xix. 247.
He gert [thaim] … bown thaim to ga In Ingland Ib. xx. 308.
He … fast him bownyt for his fare a1400 Leg. S. xxxix. 316.
Thane bounyt thai thame & furth fare a1500 Rauf C. 423.
Schir Rolland … bad him … boun him to ga a1500 Seven S. 682.
He bowned him and wald nocht byid 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. Prol. 104.
Bownand me hame and list na langer tary a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1311.
That hevinly hurd … As mortall man to bery thai thame boun 1513 Doug. vi. i. 2.
Eneas bownys hym to pas [etc.] Ib. vii. Prol. 142.
As I bownyt me to the fyre 1533 Boece v. iii. 168 b.
He feneȝit seiknes, and bownit him sonare to bed than he accustummyt 1535 Stewart 647.
To boun him hame than Yber thocht it best Ib. 6610.
Thai … sone for battell bownit thame in hy a1540 Freiris Berw. 231 (M).
Sche … bownit hir till hir bed anone

4. In p.p. = Boun ppl. a. c1420 Wynt. viii. 2506.
Thai … fand thare … a gret bataylle Bownde [C. bounde] to defend and till assayle ?1438 Alex. i. 1536.
Quhan he sawe that his menȝe was Scaillit, and bounit to leif the place 1592 Crim. Trials I. 323.
Because the next somer many ar bownit to vther countries, and will not abid on you na langer