Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1887
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†BOWBRAID, Bowbred, v. “To prick, pierce, or cut an animal in the loin, thigh, or buttocks” (Sc. 1887 Jam.6 Add.).Sc. 1887 Jam.6 Add:
Till comparatively late years it was a common practice among fleshers to beat or goad an ox to madness before killing it: . . . the practice was persisted in under the belief that it helped to make the flesh more tender. The pricking or goading of the animal was directed chiefly to the flanks, thighs, and buttocks, in order to make it most effective: hence it was called bowbraiding or bowbredin, i.e. braiding or pricking the bow or hough.
