Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
MELTIE-BOW, n.comb. See quot. and cf. Jockie and his owsen s.v. Jock, n., 4. (12).Abd. 1875 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 92:
There was cut out near the handle [of a herdboy's club] a mystic figure, something like an ill-fashioned monogram, known as a “meltie bow”, which . . . saved the club from inflicting harm on the cattle, if it chanced to strike them below the belt, as it were.
