Dictionary of the Scots Language
Dictionar o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology Cite this entry

BOW, n.³, v.¹ [bʌu]

1. n. (1) “The globule which contains the seed of flax“ (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Eng. boll. Abd. 1925  Greig and Keith Last Leaves 26:
Ilka hair upon her heid Was like a heather cowe, An' ilka loose below that Was like a lintseed bow. Ags. 1825  J. Ross Sermon, etc. 26:
First, you were linshit in the bow.

(2) Also used for the bell or flower of flax, see blae-bows s.v. Blae, n., combs. (1), and blue-bow s.v. Blue, IV. 3.

2. v. Of flax: to seed. Ags. 1825  J. Ross Sermon, etc. 26:
Neist, you were laid aneath the ground, But, buddin', raise baith safe an' sound, Till being bell'd and bow'd an' a' They pu'd you frae the rig awa.