Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1847, 1905-1935
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BOB-AT-THE-BOWSTER, BOBBITY BOWSTER, Bobadebouster, n. Variants of Bab at the Bowster, q.v. [′bɔbɪtɪ̢′bʌustər, ′bobədɪ′bʌustər]Ork. 1905 Dennison Ork. Weddings and W. Customs 36:
We must now return to the barn, where preparations were being made for the great and final dance. This, in one part of the country, was called "the Reel o' Barn," and in other parts was called "Bobadebouster."Ork. c.1912 J. Omond Orkney 80 Years Ago 13:
The dancing [at a wedding] . . . was concluded by Bobbity Bowster.Bnff.2 1928:
We hid a lot o' th' aal-faashint dances — Heeland Shiteesh, Pin Reel, Bob-at-the-bowster an sic like.Abd.19 1935Abd.22 1935Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 286;
Then wi' bob-at-the-bowster they ended the muster.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. s.v. Bab-at-the-bowster
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"Bob-at-the-bowster n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bobatthebowster>
