Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1701-1952
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BORROW, Borch, Burgh, Burrow, n.1 and v. [′bɔro, ′bʌro, ′bɔrx]
1. n.
(1) A surety, pledge.Sc. 1701–1731 R. Wodrow Analecta (Maitland Club 1843) III. 8:
He would find God the burgh; which was the way they had then of expressing, that he would give God [for] his cautioner.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley xv.:
Made prisoners, ransomed them, or concussed them into giving borrows (pledges) to enter into captivity again.Sc. 1860 C. Innes Scot. Mid. Ages vi. 184:
If a thief . . . could find no borch, he was hanged.Lnk. 1718 Minutes J.P.'s Lnk. (S.H.S. 1931) 225:
Gif they be convict of sick trespas that they be punished and find burrows till assyth the King and party complainand.
(2) Anything borrowed.Bnff. 1898 E.D.D.:
That's nae ma ain; it's a borrow. A common saying is, "A borrow sudd gyang lauchin hame."Abd.2 1935
2. v.
(1) To stand surety for, assist, ransom, release.Sc. 1747 More Culloden Papers (ed. D. Warrand 1930) V. 194:
If my life could borrow his it would be good for Scotland [referring to the death of Duncan Forbes].Sc. 1827 Billie Archie in W. Motherwell Minstrelsy 335:
Had I but five men and mysell Then we would borrow Billie Archie.Sc. 1904 Young Beichan in Ballads (ed. Child) No. 53C iv.:
O gin a lady woud borrow me, At her stirrup-foot I woud rin; Or gin a widow wad borrow me, I woud swear to be her son.Abd. 1925 Greig and Keith Last Leaves 29:
She borrowed her love at mark midnight.
(2) (See quot.)Ags. 1808 Jam.:
To borrow one, to urge one to drink. [Explained in S.D.D. as "to pledge one in liquor." Not known to our correspondents.]
3. phr.: in borrowing, on loan.Inv. 1769–1782 in I. F. Grant Old Highland Farm (1924) 191:
The ½ guinea that he got in borrowing.
4. Ppl.adj. borrowed, borrowit, looking as if one did not belong to a place, like a stranger, out of things, restless and ill at ease, forlorn. Rxb. 1875 N. Elliott N. Macpherson 84:
Puir Sandie 'ill juist tramp on up and down the kintra like a borrowed bodie till he wears the shoon aff his feet. Dmf. 1952:
Draw in your chair a bit-ye're awfu borrowed-lookin oot there.
