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.
Quotation dates: 1701-1731, 1882-1934
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BOAST, BOST, v. and n. Cf. Boost, v.1 [bost, bɔst]
1. v., tr. and intr. To threaten, scold, reprove. Given as Sc. and obs. in N.E.D. Still common in I.Sc. and n.Sc.Sc. 1701–1731 R. Wodrow Analecta (Maitland Club 1842) I. 86:
He said, "Isobell, I will never see another Sabbath. . . ." The servant boasted him.Sc. 1882 J. Leggat in D. H. Edwards Mod. Sc. Poets IV. 188:
Oh, boast na' the bairnie, sae oorit and cauld.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He bosted at him.Cai.8 1934:
Boast, to scold a dog away, to scare him.Abd. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.:
Ye needna bost me that gate.
2. n. "A threat, a scolding" (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.). Given as north. and obs. by N.E.D., latest quot. 1637.
[O.Sc. bost, boist, v.intr., to utter threats, tr., to threaten (a person); Mid.Eng. boste(n), booste, of obscure origin (D.O.S.T.). Jak. gives Norw. bausta and busta, to rush onward, to make a noise.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Boast v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Jul 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/boast>
