Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

BOUN', BOUN, Bound, n. [bun]

1. “Extent, width” (Abd.⁹, Kcb.⁹ 1935). [bun]Ayr. 1885 R. Lawson Maybole Past and Pres. 76:
Its hooses may no be sae stately as mony, Its streets and its lanes may be narrow in boun'.

2. In pl.

(1) A district, the stretch of land enclosed within certain boundaries. See Boons. Mearns 1819 J. Burness Plays, Poems, etc. 146:
A cunning knave, . . . Strove what he could sic tales to vent, To get the bounds for little rent.Hdg. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-head, etc. 143; Ayr.⁸ 1935:
Lord — lord, to see the country loons; They swarmed like bees owre a' his bouns.

Comb. biggit bouns. a cluster of buildings with their grounds. Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Parings (1813) 36:
Well fells us 'at's in bigget bouns.

(2) Limits of the body; hence size.Ork. 1946:
The schoolmaster hadno boun on him to strike wi'.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse, Maistly in the Doric 140:
Ye've nayther boun's nor girth To haud your ain wi' men.