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: 1471-1614
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Bellman, Belman, n. [ME. belle-, belman (1391).] a. One employed to make public announcements after ringing a hand-bell to call attention. b. A bell-ringer. 1471 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 30.
To charge the communite to cum to the tolbuthe for the chesing of a belman 1496 Treasurer's Accounts I. 295.
To the belman, to ga thris throw Edinburgh for werkmen to tak wagis, viij d. 1505 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 105.
For that intent thai haif namit and chosin Thomas Glendunwyne thair belman 1513–4 Rentale Dunkeld. MS. 186.
Et custodi et ministris campanarum ecclesie de Pertht & lie belman in mercedem laborum per tres dies 1537 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 414.
Tway schillingis to the sacristene for … the ringeyne of the bellis. Item, ane plak to the bell mane 1538 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 90.
That oppin proclamatioun be maid heirof be the belman 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 94.
This bill … was brocht be the bellman to Mr Knox 1607 S. Leith Rec. 5.
That the bellman of the kirke sowld not proveine the hour appoynted 1614 Rec. Earld. Orkney 382.
To the belman for belis ringing, graif making [etc.]
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"Bellman n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/bellman>
