Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
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
[1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0]
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 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/boast>
