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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.

BODE, BOD, v.1 As in St.Eng. it means to foresee, portend, signify, forebode, promise (well or ill). [bod, bɔd] Special Sc. usages:

1. To bid or offer a price at a sale; to offer in general, hence to threaten.Ags. 1932 Forfar Dispatch (18 Feb.) 2/4; Ayr.8 1935:
It's owre dear tae bode muckle o'd on ye.

ppl.adjs. bodding and boded.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems I. 225:
The ancients ken; and fast they trot, Frae boded smoth'ring death.
Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems, etc. 51:
Restless wi' fear to view their bodding fate.

2. To offer with insistence, press upon.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
He did na merely offer, but he boded it on me.
Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.7 1935, obs.; Bnff.2 1935:
“I'm no boddin upo dee”; “shu boddet it upo me.”
Bch. 1928 (per Abd.15):
The merchan's an imposin' ted, he'll bod it on ye, fither ye be needin' a thing or no.
Ags. 1892 Arbroath Guide (9 July) 3/6:
As Betty bodded her hat on Marg'et, it was at last resolved on that Betsy would rin hame for the hat.

3. To expect, look for, desire, aim at (bid for).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 63:
Bode a Robe, and wear it; bode a Sack and bear it. Speak heartily, and expect good, and it will fall out accordingly. [Other versions of the proverb have poke for sack, and some take it to mean “as you make your bed, so must you lie.”]
Sc. 1832 A. Henderson Sc. Proverbs 48; Bnff.2 1935:
God send you the warld you bode, and that's neither scant nor want.
Bch. 1928 (per Abd.15):
Sweer folk's aye boddin ull widder.
Fif. 1893 “G. Setoun” Barncraig i.:
Bode for a silk gown an' ye'll get the sleeve o't.

Phr.: to bod for (see quot.).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He bods for ill [“evil”], he is bent on mischief.

4. Comb.: boden-raven, bird of ill-omen.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 359:
My granny . . . was a firm believer in . . . wicket-spunkies, an' boden-ravens, ill een an' oonlucky fouk tae meet.

5. Proverbial sayings.

(1) With bode in the same sense as in Eng.Sc. 1832 A. Henderson Sc. Proverbs 13:
Dirt bodes luck. [Cf. Eng. proverb “where there's muck, there's money,” and O.Sc. “dirt bodds luck,” Fergusson Proverbs a.1598 (S.T.S. 1924).]
Abd.(D) 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 28:
Aul' meen mist bodes new meen drift, ye ken.
Ayr. 1923 J. Wilson Dial. of Burns 96:
Wuntur'z thunnur boadz simmur's hungur. Thunder in winter portends drought in summer.

(2) With bod(d)en, with special Sc. meaning: proffered, promised (of service).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 62:
Boden gear stinck ay.
Sc. 1737 Ramsay Proverbs 29:
He that lippens to bodden Ploughs, his Land lies Lee.
[See also Bon Plough.]

[From Bode, n., above; first appearance of v. in O.Sc. a.1598 (D.O.S.T.).]

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"Bode v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bode_v1>

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