A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1563-1566, 1623-1644
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Bell-string, n. [Late ME. bellstryng (1464).] A bell-rope. 1563 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 446.
Leid to the festnying of the boittis that the bell string rynnis into 1565–6 Ib. II. 221.
Four faldome of ane greit cord to the belstring 1623 Perth Kirk S. 305.
Ianet Barry … to stand in white sheets under the bell-string the next Sabbath before noon 1644 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries IV. 485.
For hanging a belstring
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"Bell-string n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/bell_string>
