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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.

Bourd, n. Also: bourde, bowrd (bowryd, bawrd), burd(e, bwrd, bord. [ME. bourde (14th c.), burde, bord, OF. bourde cheating, deception.]

1. Play or sport; jesting, fun. c1420 Wynt. ii. 1284.
That best … wend hyr bourd hade manans bene Ib. v. 2250.
Men mycht newyre, for play na bowryd [C. bourde] … Ger hym blenk, na lauch 1513 Doug. vii. ii. 29.
He said na mair bot this, half deil in bourd 1535 Stewart 28643.
Tha forȝet all blythnes and all bourd 1570 Sat. P. x. 365.
Quther in eirnist or bourd a1598 Ferg. Prov. 88.
Soothe bourd is na bourd

2. A cause of mirth; a jest or joke; a merry or mocking speech or tale. c1450-2 Howlat 87.
Of that bourde I was blyth c1460 Thewis Wysmen 105.
Syk a bourd may quhilum fall That al men lauch Ib. 418.
With … nys bourdis but honestee c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 385.
Of ane bowrd in to bed I sall ȝow breif ȝit Ib. 476.
Me think the best bourd quhen [etc.] 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 125.
For a gymp or a bourd, I pray ȝou note me nocht at euery word Ib. vi. i. 146.
For dreid al turn bot til a mok or bourdis 1535 Stewart 3648.
Rycht sone to scharpnes turnit all thir bourdis c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 418.
Thay wald Venus make content Be sum new burd a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 58.
To bawdische bourdis … man I oft gif ear 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 176.
Thinking the same to be ane iesting bourd c1590 Fowler 115/92.
Diogenes I also spyed, … a scuffer in his bwrdis 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 167 (J).
This [encounter in 1572] wes called the Bourd of Brechen

b. Na bourd or bourdis, no jest or trivial matter. a1500 Henr. III. 141/49.
Bakbyttaris to heir it is no bourd 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2720.
To plaint on preistis, it is na bourd Ib. 2773.
To speik of preists, be sure it is na bourds 1567 G. Ball. 80.
His living image, it is na bourd c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 39.
Allace, it is no bourd Ib. 197.
Accompt this for no bourd 1570 Sat. P. xv. 89.
France hes na rest; that is na bourdis