Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Bull, Bul, n.¹ Also: bulle, bill. [ME. bull(e, bul, obscurely related to bule Bule n.¹ and bole Bole.] A bull. c1420 Wynt. ii. 1273; Ib. 1286.
A tawre, that is a bul [W. bull] … Scho saw ner by Ib. iii. 925.
This smyth … made in hy a bull of bras 1492 Myll Spect. 275/25.
A poyet said that and men had the vnderstanding of the bull [etc.] 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 101.
A bul first to Neptune, … A bull to brycht Appollo Ib. xiii. i. 30.
Quhen that twa gret bullys … Togiddir rynnys 1549 Compl. 39/5.
The bullis began . to bullir 1553–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 110.
Payit for xvj faldome of tow to the bull on Sanct Geillis day 1569–71 Bann. Memor. App. 350.
That quhilk is spoken of the quhyt ky and bulles a1578 Pitsc. I. 45/11.
The chancelar … presentit ane bullis heid befoir the earle, quhilk was ane signe and taikin of condemnatour to the death 1594 Black Bk. Taymouth 268.
Off forrow kye … Off greit billis