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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.

Borowis, Borrowis, n. pl.² Also: borowes, borroweis, -es, borrows, borrois. [Variant of burowis (Bourowis and) Burrowis, with o for u as in ME. forms: cf. Borow and Borrow attrib. n.]

1. Boroughs.(a) 1440 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 193.
Commissaris of borowes 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 204.
To sell the samyn … to fremen of borowis and nane vtheris(b) 1545 Reg. Privy C. I. 15.
Within the sherifdomes and borrowis of Aberdene, Bamff [etc.] 1552 Conv. Burghs I. i.
The prouestis and commissaris of the borrois of this realm 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 214.
To convene with the commissinaris of borrowis to consult vpoun the weill of the hail borrowis a1578 Pitsc. I. 15/8.
So lang as thair was na man to punisch … slauchtar in land and borrowis 1595–6 Misc. Spald. C. V. 62.
For ganging throuche the haill borrowis of Scotland, to cite thame to the convention haldine at Abirdene 1623–4 Peebles B. Rec. 412.
Gewine to the man that brocht the schairge about the borroweis 1656 Mun. Irvine II. 259.
William Morisoune the borrowes post 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. 186.
He was in effect Justice-general over the borrows

2. The inhabitants of boroughs; burgesses. 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 195.
Swa that vther borrowis of the realme wald repair thairto siclyk as the inhabitaris of this toun a1578 Pitsc. I. 173/3.
Wpoun the borrowmure convenitt the haill number of lordis, barrounis and gentillmen and borrowis