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.
BUND, BOND, Boond, Bound, n.1 “A peasant, a small farmer” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., boond). [bɔnd, bund]Sh. a.1733 Shetland Acts 22 in Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. (1892) XXVI. 200:
That bounds have no more persons in their families than effeirent to their estates.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Shø's married a guid bond.
Combs.: (1) bundsman, bondsman, “crofter, tenant of a piece of land” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl.); (2) bundsfolk, boonds-, “poor crofters” (Ib.), “peasantry” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., boondsfolk); (3) bundslass, “(poor) crofter's girl” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[O.Sc. has bond, a peasant or serf, a bondman, and bond(e)man, id. (D.O.S.T.); O.E. bōnda, bunda, householder, free man (Sweet); cf. Mod.Eng. bondsman, a villein, serf. O.N. bóndi, a farmer, peasant (Zoëga); Sw. bonde, idem (Falk and Torp).]
