Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

BOWEL-HIVE, -HYVES, Bool-hives, n. [′bʌuɪl haɪv(z), ′bu:l-]

1. “An inflammation of the bowels in children” (Cai.⁷ c.1914; Slg.³ 1935).Fif.¹⁰ 1935:
Bool-hives. The name is in common use in Fife.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 121; Ayr.⁸ 1915:
Ane of the weans had the bowel-hyves.Dmf. [1808] J. Mayne Siller Gun (1836) 120:
The bowel-hive Gart meikle Geordy change his hue.

2. Used jocularly to describe corpulence.Ags.⁹ 1926:
Fat's wrang wi' you, laddie, 's the bowel-hive.