Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bow, n.² Also: bou, (boll,) bw, buow. [Northern ME. bu (Cursor M.), ON. bú, homestead, live stock (OE. bú dwelling).]

1. A stock or herd of cattle, esp. of cows. 1438 Exch. R. V. 59.
Pro feodo … custodis omnium vaccarum de le bowis regis 1513 Doug. vi. i. 70.
Sevin ȝong stottis, that ȝok bur nevir nane, Brocht from the bow Ib. vii. viii. 139.
Fyve bowis of ky ontil his hame reparit 1535 Stewart 53907.
Distroyit war all bowis, flokis and fie 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2656.
He that steillis ane bow [:kow] … That theif is hangit be the purs 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 152.
Then culd I nocht stand content of ane kow Without I gat the best stirk of the bow 1593–4 Reg. Privy C. V. 135.
To mak void and red that parte of the wode quhairin his bow of ky pasturis 1675 Sutherland Chart. 206.
The graseing of two bowes of kye in the dauach of Dyrie 1677 Thanes of Cawdor 334.
Yeld cowes which are … in my own bowes

2. In Orkney: A homestead or farm. 1502 Orkney Rentals i. 18.
Le bow eadem insule ix d. terre but scat quia boirland 1585 Rec. Earld. Orkney 306.
The hous callit the Hall of Quholme, quhilk is biggit upoun the Kingis baik outwith the auld bow and now laid and plankit to the same 1613 Orkney Rentals App. 93.
The land maill of 8 d. terre … laborit in a bw be the greif Ib. 97.
The teyndis of Houstoun … led to the buow of Skeall 1614 Ib. ii. 118.
Newbigging … and Archdeanis Quoy, labowrt in ane bow, and never payit gersume