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

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

Quotation dates: 1438-1698

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Blew, adj. Also: blewe, bleu. Also dial. variant: bew. [e.m.E. and ME. blew(e, ME. bleu, OF. bleu.]

1. Blue in colour.?1438 Alex. ii. 5023 (floures blew). 1450 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 18 (the blew stane). a1500 Henr. Fab. 1647 (flouris, sum grene, sum blew). 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 118 (columby blank and blew). 15.. Clariodus ii. 1437 (sapheiris blew); v. 126 (marbill stonis reid, whyte and blew). 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 363 (to ane maisoun to hew the blew sliddry throuch at Sanct Salvator dure). 1585 James VI Ess. 40 (whose hairs are snaiks full blew). 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 171 (this piece blew and base clay). 1698 Reg. Panmure I. p. lxvii (great blew fige).

b. As the colour of cloth, garments, etc.See also Blanket and Bonnet.(a)1473 Treasurer's Accounts I. 14.
Blew chamlot of silk 1496 Halyb. 70.
A chessabyll of blew sattin 1503 Treasurer's Accounts II. 395.
For v elne blew damas 1507 Ib. III. 260.
Taffeti, grene, rede, blew 1507 Dunfermline B. Rec. 163.
A coirlet of blew worsat 1513 Doug. xii. xiii. 218.
A haw clayth or blew 1530 Balmerino and L. Chart. ii. 32.
Ane cowrtyng of blew clath 15.. Christis K. 111.
Thay beft blew kappis 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 337.
The kapis and the blew welvet stands 1566 Fleming Q. Mary 499.
Fyftein elne of blew plading 1568 Edinburgh Testaments 169.
Ane basing claith sewit with blew threid 1570 Inverness B. Rec. I. 190.
Bying of … blew woll a1578 Pitsc. I. 258/11.
Ane man clade in ane blew goune 1583 Satirical Poems xlv. 566.
His blew clock beand worne so bair 1606 Criminal Trials II. 508.
Ane blew bend of taffetie 1610 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 416.
A hespe of blew yairne 1628 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries XXVIII. 443.
Thair trewis and blew cappis 1635 Haddington Corr. 303.
Ane blew courtene for … ane bed 1646 Edinburgh Testaments LXII. 180 b.
Ane blew wpone blew wpone blew wyllicoat 1647 Elgin Rec. I. 182.
Blew Spanishe tafitie 1680 Foulis Acc. Bk. 59.
Blew serdg to lyne Geordies coat(b)1580 Coll. Aberd. & B. 391.
Ane pair of courtingis of bew and quhyit drogitt 1580 Ib.
Ane pair of courtingis of bew sey

2. Qualifying names of colours, as broun, gray.1478 Acts Lords Auditors 67/1.
A kirtill of blew gray 1493 Acts Lords of Council 282/2.
A govne of blew gray 1564 Hamilton & Campsie Test. I. 21 b.
Ane blew broun kirtill 1572 Edinburgh Testaments 257.
Ane remane of blew broun 1582 Treasurer's Accounts MS. 53.
Thre rynning speiris paintit with blew azure 1590 Edinburgh Testaments XXII. 197 b.
Tua dosone of blew gray bonnettis 1629 Master of Works Accounts XXI. 50.
The pend … to be weill layit ouer with ane blew gray

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