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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.

Bellis, Belleis, n. Also: bellise, -ys(e, -yis, -e(o)s, bel(l)ies, bailles; double pl. bellisses, -iscis, -icis, -yssis, -ysses, belissies; bellesis, -eissis, -eces. [ME. belise, belice, later forms of belies, belyes (bulies), OE. belᵹas (bylᵹas), pl. of belᵹ, bælᵹ (bylᵹ) bag, also = blǽst- or blǽd-belᵹ bellows.] A pair of bellows.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xlix. 79.
Vith bellyse thai blew the fyre 1463 Peebles B. Rec. 150.
Stedy, bellys, hammaris, and al other thyngis that pertenis to the craft of blak smyth 1498 Acta Conc. II. 289.
A gret stethy and a pair of bellis 1513 Doug. viii. vii. 176.
Sum … With blawand bellys bet the fyre behynd 1555 Treas. Acc. X. 282.
Ane pair of bellis to the Quenis wark in Leitht 1567 Edinb. Test. I. 30 b.
For ane study and ane belleis 1585 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 192/2.
In the rewestrie within the greit chapell … ane pair of belleis for organis c1590 J. Stewart 90/377.
His breath bot onlie did as belleis blow 1596 Dalr. II. 80/28.
The Erle of Marche is inflamet be the Erle of Waruik, and with his wordes blawin vp as with a bellis 1615–6 M. Works Acc. XI. 2 b.
For careing … his studie, belleis, and other materiallis belanging thairto 1640 Bk. Carlaverock II. 502.
A study and a peare of belies 1671 Thanes of Cawdor 324.
Tua pair bellisfig. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 258.
Now na blud in me remaines Vnbrunt and boyld … By luffis bellies blawin(b) 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 129.
To ij childer that bure the organis and thair bellysis our the Month 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 117.
The comptar chargis him with thre belleces of the orgains 1561 Treas. Acc. XI. 115.
For ane pair of double bellicis to the said Inche 1571 Misc. Spald. C. III. 79.
Tua bellesis, with all vthyr grayth pertening to ane smyth 1576 Inverness B. Rec. I. 250.
James … confessit the making waittis to schone of auld belleissis 1602 Colville Parænese 154.
So many bellisses making this fyir of discord burn the more furiuslie 1604 Montgomery Mem. II. 246.
For ane par belliscis 1696 Edinb. Test. LXXX. 197 b.
Ane pair of belissies