Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BOOK-A-BOSOM, BOOK-O-BOSOM, n. The representative of the Church who confirmed by marriage a handfasting (q.v.) engagement. Cf. Bousumnicks.
The quot. from Hislop is borrowed from Scott Lay Last Minstrel iii. viii., note.Sc. [1874] A. Hislop Sc. Anecd. (1888) 220:
There is a tradition that friars were wont to go from Melrose or Jedburgh to baptise and marry in the parish of Ewes; and being in the habit of carrying the mass-book in their bosoms, they were called by the inhabitants “Book-a-Bosoms.”Sc.(E) 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws of the Marches vi. 66:
I doot they're weel content to bide so till the book-o-bosom comes round.
