Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1741-1789, 1887-1933
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BOOSE, Buis(s), Bus(e), Beuse, Bease, Bouse, Bowse, n.1 and v.1 See also Biss, n., and Bizzie, n.2 [bu:z Sc. but m.Sc. + bø:z; bys Ayr. + bɪs; bis (Arg.1)]
1. n. "A stall for a horse or cow; the upper part of the stall, where fodder is placed; fig., a seat at table; a bed; a situation, place, position" (n.Ir., Ant. 1898 E.D.D.). E.D.D. also gives it for Eng. dials.Arg.1 1933:
Bease — stall in byre.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 141:
Unto the theeked boose The cattle . . . repair.Uls. 1904 J. W. Byers in Victoria Coll. Mag. 12:
"Boose," a very old word, meaning a stall or enclosure for cattle (cows or horses). In various parts of County Down the word "boose" simply means a situation, or post, or office.
Hence beasing, "a partition between cattle in a byre" (Arg.1 1929). See also Bissing.
Combs.: (1) buisin chain, a chain for fastening the animal in its "boose"; (2) beasin stane, buisin, busin —, "stone partition separating beases" (Arg.1 1933; Ayr.4 1928, buisin stane).(2) w.Sc. 1887 Jam.6, s.v. busing-stane:
"You twa wad need a busin-stane atween ye": addressed to quarrelsome children.Rnf. 1741 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) B. 155:
Laft and laftrees, buissin stanes, hecks, mangers. Ayr. 1785-6 Session Papers, Cunningham v. Montgomery (15 Dec., 17 Jan.) 1, 5:
Two mangers, one heck, seven bousing stones. . . . The bowsing-stones are thin flags about 4 feet broad by 4½ feet long, set upon their edges, and which serve as a kind of trevice to keep the cattle separate.
2. v. "To enclose in a stall" (n.Sc. 1808 Jam. s.v. buse).
Hence an order given to cattle, "equivalent to 'stand to the stake'" (Dmf. 1825 Jam.2, s.v. bus [bys]).Ayr. 1903 G. Cunningham Verse and Prose 122:
Buiss up, ye muckle jaud!Kcb.4 c.1900:
I hae heard a byre-woman, when she wanted a coo to take her place at the stake, cry "Beuse up noo."
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"Boose n.1, v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/boose_n1_v1>
