Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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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.

BOWL-MONEY, Bow-money, n. The same as Ba-siller, q.v. (Rnf., Lnk. 1887 Jam.⁶, Rnf.¹ c.1920).wm.Sc. 1906 H. Foulis Vital Spark xviii.:
A solemn hush marked the early part of the proceedings, marred only by the sound of something frying in the other house and the shouts of children crying for bowl-money in the street.Ayr.⁴ 1928; Kcb.¹ 1935:
Bowl-money, money thrown to children on the occasion of a marriage or holiday.