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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.

Bowat, Bowet, n. Also: bowatt, bowett; bewett, bowit. [ME. bowett (1440), med. L. boeta, of obscure origin.] A lantern.(a) 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 201 b.
His awne ressoun that is … his bowat to leid him fra myrknes 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 337.
For iij sandglasses, ane bowat, … quhen the King wes in schip Ib. 354.
For v dosan quhit platis to be lanternis and bowatis 1519 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 190.
At na persouns be fund on the hie gaitt fra ix houris at evin furth, without ane lanterne or bowatt in his hand 1536 Treas. Acc. VI. 453.
Gevin for vj bowatis to the said schip callit the Morisat 1551 Hamilton Cat. 121.
As the torche or bowat schawis you lycht … , evin sa aucht ye to use the law … of God as a torche, bowat, or lanterin 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 235.
To Johnne Galloway, … for furnessing of candill and bowat at the Nether Bow 1565 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 361.
To … wphald ane gryt bowat or lamp … on the east gawill of St. Ninianis cheppell … with thre gryt flammand lychtis 1589–90 Ayr Common Good Acc. MS.
For ane cleik making on it for to hing ane bowat on in mirk nychtis 1600 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 729.
For ane bowatt to hyng betuixt the west kirk duris 1613 Conv. Burghs II. 430.
Quhene the moone schynes cleir they sall cum without candle or bowatt 1638 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 395.
To vnlaw and punisch thais inhabitantis … wha did not put out candillis and bowattis the tyme of the lait assemblie 1683–4 Stirling B. Rec. II. 326.
Ane whyt iron candlestick to the guaird … Item, to the guaird ane bowatt(b) 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 41.
That na maner of personis … pas furth of thar houssis fra viij houris at evin … without bowet or vthir licht to convoy tham 1545 Stirling B. Rec. I. 41.
[The council] ordanes lychtes and bowettis to be set out … for geving of lycht to the pepill to se 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 191.
All nychtbouris having thair duelling vpoun fore stairis on the hie stretis … to hing bowettis, induring this tyme of wynter 1580 Treas. Acc. MS. 34².
For ane bowet to the tower ȝet of the kingis maiesties hous 1605 Black Bk. Taymouth 344.
A bewett at the stair head 1627 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 529.
Ane bowet quherwith to carie fire to the brewhouse 1643 Edinb. Test. LX. 280 b.
Ane quhyt irone bowett … , ane hand bowett 1669 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 115.
A lantrone or bowet … for preserving the candle or light … for eshewing of skaith 1698 Foulis Acc. Bk. 222.
To the lass came up with the bowit to let us see homeattrib. 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 298.
and comb. xxiiij bowat hornis 1642 Edinb. Test. Index II. 123.
Thomas Duncan, bowet-maker