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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.

Blew, adj. Also: blewe, bleu. (See also Bew a.) [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.. Clar. 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. 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 14.
Blew chamlot of silk 1496 Halyb. 70.
A chessabyll of blew sattin 1503 Treas. Acc. 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 Lindores Chart. 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 Edinb. Test. 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 Sat. P. xlv. 566.
His blew clock beand worne so bair 1606 Crim. Trials II. 508.
Ane blew bend of taffetie 1610 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 416.
A hespe of blew yairne 1628 Soc. Ant. XXVIII. 443.
Thair trewis and blew cappis 1635 Haddington Corr. 303.
Ane blew courtene for … ane bed 1646 Edinb. Test. 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

2. Qualifying names of colours, as broun, gray. 1478 Acta Aud. 67/1.
A kirtill of blew gray 1493 Acta Conc. 282/2.
A govne of blew gray 1564 Hamilton & Campsie Test. I. 21 b.
Ane blew broun kirtill 1572 Edinb. Test. 257.
Ane remane of blew broun 1582 Treas. Acc. MS. 53.
Thre rynning speiris paintit with blew azure 1590 Edinb. Test. XXII. 197 b.
Tua dosone of blew gray bonnettis 1629 M. Works Acc. XXI. 50.
The pend … to be weill layit ouer with ane blew gray