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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.

Bore, Boir, n.¹ Also: bor, boire, boyr, boare. [ME. bore (c 1320), ON. bora.]

1. A hole made by boring or one suggestive of this.(a) 1456 Hay II. 132/10.
All bestis and foulis drawis thame till holis and boris and lenthing placis a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1053.
To the boris his armes wes nocht lange 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xlviii.
In the small boris and hollis thairof growis small wormis 1533 Boece xiii. vii. 513 b.
The wattir be holis and boris … enteris in housis ?1549 Monro W. Isles 54.
On the eist side of this ile ther is a bore, maid like a vylt 1581 Cath. Tract. 144/1.
Scho sau his maister … throuche ane bore of the dure c1590 Fowler 142, v. 5.
Mak in my breist a bore by knyfe or blaid 1590 Burel Pilgrim xvii.
Quhen gret wild beists … into hols and bors thame hyd(b) 1513 Doug. I. iii. 51.
The salt watir stremys Fast bullerand in at euery ryft and boyr 1535 Stewart 35845.
Out throw ane boir quhair he mycht rycht weill se 1561 Monymusk Writs MS. No. 116.
Driving hir finger in ane boir a1568 Scott xix. 3.
Thirlit throw every vane and boir 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 71/25.
Shute was the dure, in at a boir I blent 1572 Sat. P. xxxi. 83.
That ȝe may prouyde befoir To haue ane pyn for euery boir Ib. xxxii. 45.
Quhair now … in hoill and boir we byde

2. Blew bore, an opening in the clouds showing the blue sky. 1639 Baillie Lett. I. 207.
This style did please us well. It was the first blew bore that did appear in our cloudie sky