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.
Quotation dates: 1580-1603
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Bilȝard, Bilȝeart, n. Also: bilȝaird, -ȝeard; bilȝet, -ett; billet. [F. billard (also formerly billart), whence also e.m.E. billards, billiards, -yards, balliards (1591).] A billiard-cue; pl. the game of billiards. Also attrib. with boul, burde. (Cf. Bulȝard.)(a) 1580 Treasurer's Accounts MS. 382 b.
The bilȝeart burde 1582 Ib. 37.
For … bilȝeart bullis and bilȝeartis furnesset be him 1599 Ib. 71 b.
Grene Londoun clayth to cover the bilȝard burde 1603 Ib. 265.
Certane bilȝardis and bilȝard bowles furnisit … to his hienes(b) 1580 Treasurer's Accounts 38.
Grene clayth to the bilȝet burd 1603 Haddington Corr. 210.
Playit at the bilȝetts till supper(c) 1590 Treasurer's Accounts MSS. 224.
For furnessing of cairtis and billet bowllis to his hienes
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"Bilȝard n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/bil3ard>
