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: 1802-1808, 1926
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BOW, Boll, Bowe, n.2 [bu:, bʌu Sc.; Ork. bu: only]
1. "A herd of cattle " (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 187). Cf. Boo, n.1Sc. 1802–1803 Scott Minst. Sc. B., Intro. I. p. lxxxviii.:
[Walter Scott of Harden] mounted his horse . . . and returned next day with "a bow of kye, and a bassen'd (brindled) bull."Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Bow, bowe. The herd in general; whether inclosed in a fold or not.
Comb.: bow-house, cattle-shed, cow-house.Ags. 1926 D. Grewar Story of Glenisla vi.:
The Abbey, however, reserved to itself the teinds of the "bow-houses," Horses, cows and sheep.
2. "A fold for cows " (Sc. 1808 Jam.).
3. "A large undivided farm, a farm not broken up among portioners but retaining its integrity, and not worked in runrig" (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
4. The principal farmhouse on an estate. Cf. Boo, n.6Ork. 1808 Jam. s.v. boo:
The principal farm-house on an estate, . . . is in a great many instances called the Boll or Bow.
