Part 7
2. Preceding; equivalent to E. predeceased.
_Douglas._
BYGANES, BIGONES, used as _s. pl._ denoting what is past, but properly including the idea of transgression or defect.
1. It denotes offences against the sovereign, or the state, real or supposed.
_Baillie._
2. It is used in relation to the quarrels of lovers, or grounds of offence give by either party, S.
_Morison._
3. It often denotes arrears, sums of money formerly due, but not paid, S.
_Wodrow._
BIGS, Barbour, xix. 392. Pink. ed. Leg. ~Lugis~.
BIKE, BYKE, BEIK, _s._
1. A building, an habitation, S.
_Gawan and Gol._
2. A nest or hive of bees, wasps, or ants, S.
_Douglas._
3. A building erected for the preservation of grain; Caithn.
_Pennant._
4. Metaph. an association or collective body; S.
_Lyndsay._
_To skail the byke_, metaph. to disperse an assembly of whatever kind; S.
Isl. _biik-ar_ denotes a hive, alvear; and Teut. _bie-bock_, _bie-buyck_, apiarium, alvearium, Kilian. The Isl. word is probably from Su. G. _bygg-a_, to build, part. pa. _bygdt_; q. something prepared or built. There seems to be no reason to doubt that the word, as used in sense 2, is the same with that denoting a habitation. For what is a _byke_ or _bee-bike_, but a building or habitation of bees?
BYK, Apparently, an errat. for _byt_, bite.
_Dunbar._
BYKAT, BEIKAT, _s._ A male salmon; so called, when come to a certain age, because of the _beak_ which grows in his under jaw; Ang.
BILBIE, _s._ Shelter, residence; Ang.
This, I apprehend, is a very ancient word. It may be either from Su.G. _byle_, habitaculum, and _by_, pagus, conjoined, as denoting residence in a village; or more simply, from _Bolby_, villa primaria; from _bol_, praedium, and _by_, a village. Thus _bolby_ would signify a village which has a _praedium_, or territory of its own, annexed to it.
BILEFT, _pret._ Remained, abode.
_Sir Tristrem._
A. S. _belif-an_, superesse, to remain; Alem. _bilib-en_, Franc, _biliu-en_, manere; Schilter.
BILGET, _adj._ Bulged, jutting out.
_Douglas._
Su. G. _bulg-ia_, to swell, whence Isl. _bylgia_, a billow. Or, Isl. _eg belge_, curvo; _belgia huopta_, inflare buccas.
_To_ BILL, _v. a._ To register, to record.
_Bp. Forbes._
BILLIE, BILLY, _s._
1. A companion, a comrade.
_Minstrelsy Border._
2. Fellow, used rather contemptuously, S. synon. _chield_, _chap_.
_Shirrefs._
3. As a term expressive of affection and familiarity; S.
_Ramsay._
4. A lover, one who is in suit of a woman.
_Evergreen._
Still used in this sense, S. B.
5. A brother, S.
_Minstrelsy Border._
6. Apparently used in allusion to brotherhood in arms, according to the ancient laws of chivalry.
_Minstrelsy Border._
7. A young man. In this sense it is often used in the pl. _The billies_, or, _the young billies_, S. B.
It is expl. "a stout man, a clever fellow," Gl. Shirr.
8. Sometimes it signifies a boy, S. B. as synon. with _callan_.
_Ross._
It is probably allied to Su. G. Germ. _billig_, Belg. _billik_, equalis; as denoting those that are on a footing as to age, rank, relation, affection, or employment.
BILLIT, _adj._ "Shod with iron," Rudd. _Billit ax_.
_Douglas._
This phrase is perhaps merely a circumlocution for the _bipennis_, or large ax.
V. ~Balax~.
BILTER, _s._ A child, Dumfr.; Isl. _pilter_, puellus.
BIN, _s._ A mountain, S. O.
_Galloway._
From Gael. _ben_, id., Lomond _bin_, being synon. with _Benlomond_.
BIND, BINDE, _s._
1. Dimension, size; especially with respect to circumference. A barrel of a certain _bind_, is one of certain dimensions, S.; hence _Barrell bind_.
_Acts Ja. III._
2. It is used more generally to denote size in any sense.
_Acts Marie._
3. Metaph. to denote ability. "Aboon my _bind_" beyond my power. This is often applied to pecuniary ability; S.
This use of the word is evidently borrowed from the idea of _binding_ a vessel with hoops.
BINDLE, _s._ The cord or rope that binds any thing, whether made of hemp or of straw; S.
Su. G. _bindel_, a headband, a fillet, from _bind-as_, to bind. Teut. _bindel_, ligamen.
BINDWOOD, _s._ The vulgar name for ivy, S.; Hedera helix, Linn.; pron. _binwud_.
Denominated, perhaps, from the strong hold that it takes of a wall, a rock, trees, &c. q. the _binding wood_. It is probably the same which is written _benwood_.
_Statist. Acc._
BING, _s._
1. A heap in general.
_Lyndsay._
2. A heap of grain, S.
_Douglas._
3. A pile of wood; immediately designed as a funeral pile.
_Douglas._
4. "A temporary inclosure or repository made of boards, twigs, or straw ropes, for containing grain or such like;" Gl. Sibb., where it is also written _binne_.
Dan. _bing_, Sw. _binge_, Isl. _bing-r_, cumulus.
_To_ BYNGE, _v. n._ To cringe.
V. ~Beenge~.
_To_ BINK, _v. a._ To press down, so as to deprive any thing of its proper shape. It is principally used as to shoes, when, by careless wearing, they are allowed to fall down in the heels; S.
O. Teut. _bangh-en_, premere, in angustum cogere. Sw. _bank-a_, to beat seems allied; q. to beat down.
BINK, _s._
1. A bench, a seat; S. B.
_Priests of Peblis._
2. A wooden frame, fixed to the wall of a house, for holding plates, bowls, spoons, &c. Ang. It is also called a _Plate-rack_; S.
_Colvil._
BINK, _s._ A bank, an acclivity, S. B.
_Evergreen._
Wachter observes that Germ. _bank_, Su. G. _baenk_, denote any kind of eminence.
~V. Benk~.
BINWEED.
V. ~Bunwede~.
BYPTICIT, _part. pa._ Dipped or dyed.
Lat. _baptizo_.
_Houlate._
BIR, BIRR, _s._ Force.
I find that Isl. _byr_, expl. ventus ferens, is deduced from _ber-a_, ferre; Gl. Edd. Saem.
V. ~Beir~.
BIRD, BEIRD, BRID, BURD, _s._
1. A lady, a damsel.
_Gawan and Gol._
As _bridde_ is the word used by Chaucer for bird, it is merely the A. S. term for pullus, pullulus. _Bird_, as applied to a damsel, appears to be the common term used in a metaph. sense.
2. Used, also metaph., to denote the young of quadrupeds, particularly of the fox.
V. ~Tod's Birds~.
BYRD, _v. imp._ It behoved, it became.
_Barbour._
A. S. _byreth_, pertinet. This imp. v. may have been formed from _byr-an_, _ber-an_, to carry, or may be viewed as nearly allied to it. Hence _bireth_, gestavit; Germ. _berd_, _ge-baerd_, id., _sich berd-en_, gestum facere. Su. G. _boer-a_, debere, pret. _borde_, anciently _boerjade_.
BIRDING, _s._ Burden, load.
V. ~Birth, Byrth~.
_Douglas._
A. S. _byrthen_, Dan. _byrde_, id.
BIRD-MOUTH'D, _adj._ Mealy-mouth'd, S.
_Ramsay._
BYRE, _s._ Cowhouse, S. _Byer_, id. Cumb.
_Gawan and Gol._
Perhaps allied to Franc. _buer_, a cottage; _byre_, Su. G. _byr_, a village; Germ. _bauer_, habitaculum, cavea; from Su. G. _bo_, _bu-a_, to dwell. Or from Isl. _bu_, a cow; Gael. _bo_, id.
BIRK, _s._ Birch, a tree; S. Betula alba, Linn.
_Douglas._
A. S. _birc_, Isl. _biorki_, Teut. _berck_, id.
_To_ BIRK, _v. n._ To give a tart answer, to converse in a sharp and cutting way; S.
A. S. _birc-an_, _beorc-an_, to bark, q. of a snarling humour.
Hence,
BIRKIE, _adj._ Tart, in speech, S.
BIRKY, _s._
1. A lively young fellow; a person of mettle; S.
_Poems Buchan Dial._
2. _Auld Birky_, "In conversation, analogous to _Old Boy_," Gl. Shirr.
_Ramsay._
Allied perhaps to Isl. _berk-ia_, jactare, to boast; or _biarg-a_, opitulari, q. one able to give assistance.
BIRKIN, BIRKEN, _adj._ Of, or belonging to birch; S.
_Gawan and Gol._
A. S. _beorcen_, id.
_To_ BIRL, BIRLE, _v. a._
1. This word primarily signifies the act of pouring out, or furnishing drink for guests, or of parting it among them.
_Douglas._
2. To ply with drink.
_Minst. Border._
3. To drink plentifully, S.
_Douglas._
4. To club money for the purpose of procuring drink. "I'll _birle_ my bawbie," I will contribute my share of the expence; S.
_Ramsay._
In Isl. it is used in the first sense; _byrl-a_, infundere, miscere potum. In A. S. it occurs in sense third, _biril-ian_, _birl-ian_, haurire. Hence _byrle_, a butler. Isl. _byrlar_, id. _Birle_, O. E. has the same signification.
_To_ BIRL, _v. n._
V. ~Birr~, _v._
BIRLAW-COURT, also BIRLEY-COURT.
V. ~Burlaw~.
BIRLEY-OATS, BARLEY-OATS, _s. pl._ A species of oats, S.
_Statist. Acc._
It seems to have received its name from its supposed resemblance to _barley_.
BIRLIE, _s._ A loaf of bread; S. B.
BIRLIN, _s._ A small vessel used in the Western Islands.
_Martin._
Probably of Scandinavian origin, as Sw. _bars_ is a kind of ship; and _berling_, a boat-staff, Seren. I am informed, however, that in Gael. the word is written _bhuirlin_.
_To_ BIRN, _v. a._ To burn.
V. ~Bryn~.
BIRN, BIRNE, _s._ A burnt mark; S.
_Acts Charles II._
_Skin and Birn_, a common phrase, denoting the whole of any thing, or of any number of persons or things; S. from A. S. _byrn_, burning.
_Acts Marie._
BIRN, _s._ A burden, S. B.
_Ross._
To _gie_ one's _birn a hitch_, to assist him in a strait, S. B.
_Poems Buchan Dial._
An abbreviation of A. S. _byrthen_, burden; if not from C. B. _biorn_, onus, _byrnia_, onerare; Davies.
BIRNIE, BYRNIE, _s._ A corslet, a brigandine.
_Douglas._
A. S. _byrn_, _byrna_, Isl. _bryn_, _brynia_, Sw. _bringa_, thorax, lorica, munimentum pectoris; probably from Isl. _bringa_, pectus.
BIRNS, _s. pl._ Roots, the stronger stems of burnt heath, which remain after the smaller twigs are consumed; S.
A. S. _byrn_, incendium.
_Pennycuik._
BIRR, _s._ Force.
V. ~Beir~.
_To_ BIRR, _v. n._ To make a whirring noise, especially in motion; the same with _birle_, S.
V. ~Beir~, _s._
_Douglas._
_To_ ~Birl~, _v. n._
1. To "make a noise like a cart driving over stones, or mill-stones at work." It denotes a constant drilling sound, S.
_Popular Ball._
2. Used improperly, to denote quick motion in walking, Loth.
_Birl_ seems to be a dimin. from the v. _Birr_, used in the same sense, formed by means of the letter _l_, a common note of diminution.
BIRS, BIRSE, BYRSS, BIRSSIS, _s._
1. A bristle, "a sow's _birse_," the bristle of a sow, S.
_Evergreen._
2. Metaph. for the beard.
_Knox._
3. Metaph. for the indication of rage or displeasure. "To set up one's _birss_," to put one in a rage. The _birse_ is also said to _rise_, when one's temper becomes warm, in allusion to animals fenced with bristles, that defend themselves, or express their rage in this way, S.
_Course of Conformitie._
A. S. _byrst_, Germ. _borst_, _burst_, Su. G. _borst_, id. Ihre derives it from _burr_, a thistle. Sw. _saettia up borsten_, to put one in a rage; _borsta sig_, to give one's self airs, E. to bristle up.
~Birssy~, _adj._
1. Having bristles, rough, S.
_Douglas._
2. Hot-tempered, easily irritated, S.
3. Keen, sharp; applied to the weather. "A _birssy_ day," a cold bleak day, S. B.
_To_ BIRSE, BIRZE, BRIZE, _v. a._
1. To bruise, S.
_Watson._
_Palice of Honour._
_Brise_ is common in O. E.
2. To push or drive; _to birse in_, to push in, S.
_Shirrefs._
A. S. _brys-an_, Belg. _brys-en_; Ir. _bris-im_; Fr. _bris-er_, id.
BIRSE, BRIZE, _s._ A bruise, S.
_To_ BIRSLE, BIRSTLE, BRISSLE, _v. a._
1. To burn slightly, to broil, to parch by means of fire; as, _to birsle pease_, S.
_Douglas._
2. To scorch; referring to the heat of the sun, S.
_Douglas._
3. To warm at a lively fire, S. A. Bor. _brusle_, id.
Su. G. _brasa_, a lively fire; whence Isl. _brys_, ardent heat, and _bryss-a_, to act with fervour, _ec breiske_, torreo, aduro; A. S. _brastl_, glowing, _brastlian_, to burn, to make a crackling noise.
BIRSLE, BRISSLE, _s._ A hasty toasting or scorching, S.
BIRTH, BYRTH, _s._ Size, bulk, burden.
V. ~Burding~.
_Douglas._
Isl. _byrd_, _byrth-ur_, _byrth-i_, Dan. _byrde_, Su. G. _boerd_, burden; whence _byrding_, navis oneraria. The origin is Isl. _ber-a_, Su. G. _baer-a_, A. S. _ber-an_, _byr-an_, portare.
BIRTH, _s._ A current in the sea, caused by a furious tide, but taking a different course from it, Orkn. Caithn.
_Statist. Acc._
Isl. _byrdia_, currere, festinare, Verel.; as apparently signifying a strong _current_.
BY-RUNIS, _s. pl._ Arrears.
_Skene._
This is formed like ~By-ganes~, q. v.
BYRUNNING, _part. pr._ Waved.
_Douglas._
Moes. G. _birinn-an_, percurrere.
BISHOPRY, _s._ Episcopacy, government by diocesan bishops.
_Apologet. Relation._
A. S. _biscoprice_, episcopatus.
BISHOP'S FOOT. It is said, _The Bishop's foot has been in the broth_, when they are singed, S.
This phrase seems to have had its origin in times of Popery, when the clergy had such extensive influence, that hardly any thing could be done without their interference. A similar phrase is used A. Bor. "_The bishop has set his foot in it_, a saying in the North, used for milk that is burnt-to in boiling."
BISKET, _s._ Breast.
V. ~Brisket~.
BISM, BYSYME, BISNE, BISINE, _s._ _Abyss_, gulf.
_Douglas._
Fr. _abysme_, Gr. αβυσσος.
BISMAR, BYSMER, _s._ A steelyard, or instrument for weighing resembling it; sometimes _bissimar_, S. B., Orkn.
V. ~Pundlar~.
_Barry._
Isl. _bismari_, _besmar_, libra, trutina minor; Leg. West Goth. _bismare_, Su. G. _besman_; Teut. _bosemer_, id. stater; Kilian. G. Andr. derives this word from Isl. _bes_, a part of a pound weight.
BISMARE, BISMERE, _s._
1. A bawd.
_Douglas._
2. A lewd woman, in general.
_Douglas._
"F. ab A. S. _bismer_, contumelia, aut _bismerian_, illudere, dehonorare, polluere," Rudd.
BISMER, _s._ The name given to a species of stickle-back, Orkn.
_Barry._
BISMING, BYISMING, BYISNING, BYSENING, BYSYNT, _adj._ Horrible, monstrous.
V. ~Byssym~.
_Douglas._
BYSPRENT, _part. pa._ Besprinkled, overspread.
_Douglas._
Belg. _besprengh-en_, to sprinkle.
BISSARTE, BISSETTE, _s._ A buzzard, a kind of hawk.
_Acts Ja. II._
Germ. _busert_, Fr. _bussart_, id.
_To_ BYSSE, BIZZ, _v. n._ To make a hissing noise, as hot iron plunged into water, S.
_Douglas._
Belg. _bies-en_, to hiss like serpents.
BISSE, BIZZ, _s._ A hissing noise, S.
_Ferguson._
BYSSYM, BYSYM, BESUM, BYSN, BISSOME, BUSSOME, BYSNING, _s._
1. A monster.
_Houlate._
2. A prodigy, something portentous of calamity.
_Knox._
3. _Bysim_ is still used as a term highly expressive of contempt for a woman of an unworthy character, S.
V. ~Bisming~.
Mr Macpherson, vo. _Bysynt_, mentions A. S. _bysmorfull_, horrendus. Isl. _bysmarfull_ has the same sense; _bysna_, to portend; _bysn_, a prodigy, grande quod ac ingens, G. Andr.
BISTAYD, BISTODE, _pret._ Perhaps, surrounded.
_Sir Tristrem._
A. S. _bestod_, circumdedit, from _bestand-an_, Teut. _besteen_, circumsistere, circumdare.
BYSTOUR, BOYSTURE, _s._ A term of contempt; the precise meaning of which seems to be lost.
_Polwart._
Several similar terms occur, as Fr. _bistorié_, crooked, _boister_, to limp; _bustarin_, a great lubber.
BIT, _s._ A vulgar term used for food, S.
_Bit and baid_, meat and clothing, S. B.
_Ross._
Although _baid_ be understood of clothing, I suspect that it, as well as _bit_, originally signified food, from A. S. _bead_, a table.
BYT, _s._ The pain occasioned by a wound.
_Douglas._
A. S. _byt_, morsus, metaph. used.
BYTESCHEIP, _s._ A contemptuous term, meant as a play on the title of _Bishop_.
_Semple._
BITTILL, _s._ A beetle, a heavy mallet, especially one used for beating clothes.
_Houlate._
_To_ BYWAUE, _v. a._ To cover, to hide, to cloak.
_Douglas._
A. S. _bewoef-an_, Moes. G. _biwaib-jan_, id.
_To_ BIZZ, _v. n._ To hiss. V. ~Bysse~.
_To_ BIZZ, BIZZ _about_, _v. n._ To be in constant motion, to bustle, S.
Su. G. _bes-a_, a term applied to beasts which, when beset with wasps, drive hither and thither; Teut. _bies-en_, _bys-en_, furente ac violento impetu agitari, Kilian.
BLA, BLAE, _adj._ Livid; a term frequently used to denote the appearance of the skin when discoloured by a severe stroke or contusion, S.
_Douglas._
Su. G. _blaa_, Isl. _bla-r_, Germ. _blaw_, Belg. _blauw_, Franc. _plauu_, lividus, glaucus.
_To_ BLABBER, BLABER, BLEBER, _v. n._ To babble, to speak indistinctly.
_R. Bruce._
Teut. _blabber-en_, confuse et inepte garrire, Jun. vo. _Blab_.
Hence,
BLABERING, _s._ Babbling.
_Douglas._
BLACKAVICED, _adj._ Dark of the complexion, S. from _black_ and Fr. _vis_, the visage.
_Ramsay._
BLACK-BOYDS, _s. pl._ The name given to the fruit of the bramble, West of S.
BLACK-BURNING, _adj._ Used in reference to shame, when it is so great as to produce deep blushing, or to crimson the countenance, S.
_Ramsay._
Su. G. Isl. _blygd_, shame, blushing; _blygd-a_, to blush; q. the burning of blushes.
BLACK-COCK, _s._ The Heath-cock, black Game, S. Tetrao tetrix, Linn. V. Penn. Zool. p. 266. Tetrao seu Urogallus minor.--Gallus palustris Scoticus, Gesn. Nostratibus, the _Black cock_. Sibb. Scot. p. 16.
V. ~Capercailye~.
BLACK FISH, fish when they have recently spawned.
V. ~Reid Fische~.
BLACK-FISHING, _s._ Fishing for salmon, under night, by means of torches, S.
V. ~Leister~.
_Statist. Acc._
BLACK-FOOT, _s._ A sort of matchmaker; one who goes between a lover and his mistress, endeavouring to bring the fair one to compliance, S. pronounced _black-fit_; synon. _Mush_, q. v.
BLACK-HEAD, _s._ The Powit-gull, Shetl.
_Neill._
BLACK-MAIL.
V. ~Mail~.
BLACK PUDDING.
V. ~Mart~.
BLACK SPAUL, a disease of cattle, S.
_Essays Highl. Soc._
BLAD, BLAUD, _s._ A large piece of any thing, a considerable portion, S. expl. "a flat piece of any thing," Gl. Burns.
_Polwort._
"A _blad_ of bread," is a large flat piece. "I gat a _great blad_ of Virgil by heart;" I committed to memory a great many verses from Virgil.
To _ding in blads_, to drive in pieces.
_Melville's MS._
This word, as perhaps originally applied to food, may be from A. S. _blaed_, fruit of any kind; _blaed_, _bled_, also denoted _pot-herbs_; Ir. _bladh_, a part; _bladh-am_, I break.
_Blads and dawds_, is still the designation given to large leaves of greens boiled whole, in a sort of broth, Aberd. Loth.
BLAD, _s._ A person who is of a soft constitution; whose strength is not in proportion to his size or looks; often applied to a young person, who has become suddenly tall, but is of a relaxed habit, S. B.
Allied, perhaps, to A. S. _blaed_, as denoting, either the boughs or leaves of trees, or growing corn; as both often shoot out so rapidly as to give the idea of weakness; or, to Germ. _blode_, the original sense of which is, weak, feeble.
BLAD, _s._ A portfolio, S. B.
As the E. word is comp. of Fr. _porter_, to carry, and _feuille_, a leaf; the S. term has a similar origin, being evidently from Su. G. _blad_, A. S. _blaed_, folium.
_To_ BLAD.
1. Used impers. "Its _bladdin on o' weet_," the rain is driving on; a phrase that denotes intermitting showers accompanied with squalls, S.
2. To abuse, to maltreat in whatever way. Aberd. Corn is said to be _bladdit_, when overthrown by wind.
3. To slap, to strike; to drive by striking, or with violence, S. _Dad_, synon.
_Evergreen._
Germ. _blodern_ is used in the first sense. _Es blodert_, it storms and snows; also, _blat-en_, to blow. Isl. _blaegt-a_ indeed signifies, to be moved by the wind, motari aura; O. Fr. _plaud-er_, to bang, to maul.
BLAD, _s._ A squall; always including the idea of rain, S. A heavy fall of rain is called "a _blad_ of weet," S. B.
~Bladdy~, _adj._ Inconstant, unsettled; applied to the weather. "A _bladdy_ day," is one alternately fair and foul.
BLAD, _s._ A dirty spot on the cheek, S. perhaps q. the effect of a blow, Gael. _blad_, however, is synon.
BLADARIE, _s._ Perhaps, vain glory.
_R. Bruce._
Teut. _blaeterije_, jactantia, vaniloquentia.
BLADDERAND, BLADDRAND.
V. ~Blether~.
BLADE, _s._ The leaf of a tree, S.
A. S. _blaed_, _bled_; Su. G. Isl. Belg. _blad_, Germ. _blat_, Alem. _plat_, id.; perhaps the part. pa. of A. S. _blew-an_, _blow-an_, florere, to bud, to burgeon; _blaewed_, q. what is _blowed_, or shot forth; just as Franc. _bluat_, flos, is from _bly-en_, florere.
BLADOCH, BLEDOCH, BLADDA, s. Butter-milk, S. B.
_Bannatyne Poems._
Ir. _bladhach_, Gael. _blath-ach_, id. C. B. _blith_, milk in general.
BLADRY, _s._ Expl. "trumpery."
_Kelly._
It may be either the same with _Bladarie_, or _Blaidry_, q. v.
BLAE, BLAY, _s._ The rough parts of wood left in consequence of boring or sawing, S. B.
Germ. _bleh_, thin leaves or plates; lamina, bracteola; Wachter.
BLAES, _s. pl._ Apparently, lamina of stone, S.
_Law Case._
BLAE, _adj._ Livid.
V. ~Bla~.
BLAE-BERRY, _s._ The Billberry; Vaccinium myrtillus, Linn.
_Ramsay._
Sw. _bla-baer_, vaccinium, Seren. Isl. _blaber_, myrtilli; G. Andr.
_To_ BLAFLUM, _v. a._ To beguile, S.
V. ~Bleflum~.
_Ramsay._
BLAIDRY, _s._ Nonsense.
V. ~Blether~, _v._
BLAIDS, _s. pl._
_Watson's Coll._
A. S. _blaedr_, Su. G. _blaedot_, and Germ. _blater_, denote a pimple, or swelling with many reddish pimples that eat and spread. A. S. _blaecth_, leprosy.
BLAIN, _s._ A mark left by a wound, the discolouring of the skin after a sore, S.
_Rutherford._
A. S. _blegene_, Belg. _bleyne_, pustula. But our term is more closely allied to Isl. _blina_, which is not only rendered _pustula_, but also, _caesio ex verbere_; G. Andr. Germ. _blae-en_, to swell.
BLAIN, _s._ A blank, a vacancy.
_A blain in a field_, a place where the grain has not sprung, Loth.
Probably a metaph. use of the preceding word.
BLAIR, _s._ That part of flax which is afterwards used in manufacture, properly after it has been steeped, and laid out for being dried; for it is subsequently called _lint_, S. This in E. is denominated _harle_.
Sw. _blaer_, hards of flax; but rather from Isl. _blaer_, aura, because it is thus exposed to the drought.
_To_ BLAIR, _v. n._ To become dry by exposure to the drought, Ang.
BLAIRIN, _s._ The ground appropriated for drying flax, Ang.
This term also denotes the ground on which peats are laid out to be dried, ibid.
BLAIRAND, _part. pr._ Roaring, crying. Teut. _blaer-en_, mugire, Gl. Sibb.
BLAIT, _adj._ Naked, bare.
_Pr. of Peblis._
BLAIT, BLATE, _adj._
1. Bashful, sheepish, S.
_Ramsay._
2. Blunt, unfeeling; a secondary sense.
_Douglas._
3. Curt, rough, uncivil.
_Spalding._
4. Easily deceived.
_Gl. Surv. Nairn._
O. E. _blade_, silly, frivolous; or in the same sense in which we now speak of a blunt reason or excuse. Isl. _blaad-ur_, _blauth-ur_, _blaud_, soft. The word seems to be primarily applied to things which are softened by moisture. Mollis, limosus, maceratus. Hence used to signify what is feminine; as opposed to _huat-ar_, masculine. It also signifies, timid. _Bleyde_, softness, fear, shame; _hugbleith_, softness of mind; Germ. Su. G. _blode_, Belg. _blood_, mollis, timidus.
BLAIT-MOUIT, _adj._ Bashful, sheepish, q. ashamed to open one's mouth.
BLAITIE-BUM, s. Simpleton, stupid fellow.
_Lyndsay._
If this be the genuine orthography, perhaps from Teut. _blait_, vaniloquus; or rather, blait, sheepish, and _bomme_, tympanum. But it is generally written _Batie-bum_, q. v.
BLAK _of the_ EIE, the apple of the eye, S.
_R. Bruce._
BLAN, _pret._ Caused to cease.
_Gawan and Gol._
It is undoubtedly the pret. of _blin_; A. S. _blan_, _blann_, cessavit.
BLANCHART, _adj._ White.
_Gawan and Gol._
Fr. _blanc_, _blanche_, id. The name _blanchards_ is given to a kind of linen cloth the yarn of which has been twice bleached, before it was put into the loom; perhaps immediately from Teut. _blancke_, id. and _aerd_, Belg. _aardt_, nature.
V. ~Art~.
BLANCIS, _s. pl._ Ornaments worn by those who represented Moors, in the Pageant exhibited at Edinburgh, A. 1590.
_Watson's Coll._
If not allied to Fr. _blanc_, white, it may be a cognate of Germ. Su. G. _blaess_, Isl. _bles_, signum album in fronte equi; whence E. _blason_, S. _Bawsand_, q. v.
BLAND, _s._ Some honourable piece of dress worn by knights and men of rank.
_Maitland Poems._
_Blanda_, according to Bullet, is a robe adorned with purple, a robe worn by grandees. Su. G. _blyant_, _bliant_, a kind of precious garment among the ancients, which seems to have been of silk.
_To_ BLAND, _v. a._ To mix, to blend.
_Douglas._
Su. G. Isl. _bland-a_, to mix.