Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1857
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BOLE, v. Of a cabbage: to grow thick, form a head, to heart.Per. 1857 Trans. Highl. Soc. 374:
As the early varieties [of cabbage] are generally cut before the late or large growing are beginning to bole, they do not interfere with their growth.
[Ultimate origin somewhat doubtful, but formally a variant of Eng. boll, either in the sense of to swell, Mid.Eng. bolnen, O.N. bolgna, id., or meaning a rounded pod, a variant of bowl, O.E. bolla, a bud. The vocalised form of the word is found in Bow-kail, q.v.]
