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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.

Bulwerk, -wark, -work, n. Also: bullwarke, bulwart; bull-, bulewerk, bol-, bowlwerk; bullwork(e. [ME. bulwerke (c 1418), ME. and e.m.E. bul(l)work(e, e.m.E. bulwark(e, bolwark, Du. bolwerk, G. bollwerk, OF. bollewerk, -verc, etc.]

1. A defensive bulwark or rampart. c1475 Wall. viii. 781.
The Scottis … Thar bulwerk brynt … off the toun a1500 Doug. K. Hart 101.
Ane pretty place … With bulwerkis braid 1534 Crim. Trials I. 283.
To inbring thair taxtis … for bulwerkis and defensis 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 294.
Ye sal cast you to the north syd betix the bolwerk next the base court and the oder bowlwerk abow that 1581 Sempill Sat. P. xliii. 21.
Bulworkis nor battellis bydis her [sc. Fortune] nocht a bendattrib. 1534–5 M. Works Acc. III. 17 b.
Gret tynnit nalis with schorne hedis to the wtter gret bulwerk ȝett

2. A wall or embankment to protect a shore or riverbank.(a) 1504 Treas. Acc. II. 449.
Payit … to the marinaris that settis up the bullwerk of the New Havin 1511 Reg. Great S. 764/1.
Cum … spatio ad edificandum et prolongandum munitionem, viz. le pere et bulwerk ejusdem [portus] 1533 Treas. Acc. VI. 130.
Lettrez to the burrowis … for bulwerkis making endlangis the coist syd 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 218.
[The council] ordaris the thesaurer … to compleit and vpbig the schoir and bulwerk as the samyn is foundit(b) 1508 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 113.
[They] sall … tak furth of the havin of Leith all the lows stanis extending fra the bulwark inwart towart the west 1510–13 Rentale Dunkeld. fol. 157.
Per solucionem factam seruientibus circa lie bulwark & croy 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 320.
The aucht dayis expensis to dyk up the bulwart quhen it sandit Ib.
For bering of the schiptymmer to the bulwart 1597 Ib. V. 195.
[The council] fynds expedient … that thair be fourty persouns … enterit to the fylling of the bulwarks at law waters 1604 Conv. Burghs II. 177.
For reparatioun of their hewin … in biging of schoiris & bulwarkis 1612 Orkney & Zetl. Sheriff Ct. 10.
The said Katherene to be tane to the bulwark and cassen over the same in the sey(c) 1553–4 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 289.
For the making of twa bekinnis on the eist end of the bulwork of Leyth 1632 Wemyss Chart. II. 315.
He … hes biggit ane bulwork wpon his awine chairges and expenssis 1676 Glasgow Chart. II. 186.
To build ane wall or bullworke of hewin stone … in that place of the river syd [etc.]