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).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BOW, Boll, Bowe, n.² [bu:, bʌu Sc.; Ork. bu: only]

1. “A herd of cattle “ (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 187). Cf. Boo, n.¹Sc. 1802–1803 Scott Minst. Sc. B., Intro. I. p. lxxxviii.:
[Walter Scott of Harden] mounted his horse . . . and returned next day with “a bow of kye, and a bassen'd (brindled) bull.”Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Bow, bowe. The herd in general; whether inclosed in a fold or not.

Comb.: bow-house, cattle-shed, cow-house.Ags. 1926 D. Grewar Story of Glenisla vi.:
The Abbey, however, reserved to itself the teinds of the “bow-houses,” Horses, cows and sheep.

2. “A fold for cows “ (Sc. 1808 Jam.).

3. “A large undivided farm, a farm not broken up among portioners but retaining its integrity, and not worked in runrig” (Ork. 1929 Marw.).

4. The principal farmhouse on an estate. Cf. Boo, n.⁶Ork. 1808 Jam. s.v. boo:
The principal farm-house on an estate, . . . is in a great many instances called the Boll or Bow.