Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bele, Beil, Beal(l, v. [Of obscure origin.]

1. intr. To swell with moisture. c1420 Wynt. i. 401.
The wattyris wox as thai war woude, … Belyde [W. beillit] boggys than out brystyd

b. To swell with morbid matter; to suppurate. c1515 Asl. MS. II. 250/101.
This well … So holsome was that it wold asswage Belyng hertis and the wenyme pres c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 164.
Now sall the byle all out brist, that beild has so lang a1568 Bann. MS. 329/51.
A byle that is lang beilit Brekis at the last a1605 Montg. Misc. P. vi. 10.
I feill a byll within my bosum beill 1600-1610 Melvill 497.
In my hand began to beall a crewall catarh 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 145.
ȝe prayed God nor the foill burst and beall 1675 Stirlings of Keir 507.
The uncertentie of my wiffs helth … in regaird her breist is beald

2. To swell with rage, to fill with rancour. c1420 Wynt. viii. 1775.
Quhen the Kyng Edward … Had herd off this deid full tythand, All breme he belyd in to berth 1456 Hay I. 59/19.
His hert rais in his breste and belit sa, that unes mycht he lest for ire c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 345.
My breist that wes gret beild, bowdyn wes sa huge 1533 Boece xi. xii. 429 b.
This Fynell … hatit the king; daily hir mynde contrare him was mare belit