Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
AVIS-BORE, AUWIS-, n. The circular hollow left in a piece of wood in consequence of a knot coming out of it. Popular tradition regarded the bore as the work of the fairies. In Mry. the term is elf-bore. (See also navus-, nawus-, nawvus-bore, Abd.) [′ɑ:vɪs′bo:r]Bnff. 1887 J. Yeats in Bnffsh. Field Club 64:
Milking through the “avis bore” — i.e. a hole in a piece of wood made by taking out a natural knot — was also good against witchcraft.Bnff.5 1926:
Avis-bore: charm of a knot-hole, through which the cow's milk was passed, immediately after calving. It was not made with hands hence its virtue.
