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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.

Boldin, bowdin, p.p. and ppl. a. Also: boldyn, boldne, boildin; bowldin, boulden; bowdyn, -en, boudin. [Corresp. to ME. bollen (e.m.E. bolne, bowln, etc.), Bollin, or bolned, perhaps by confusion between the two forms.]

1. p.p. a. Physically swollen or distended.(a) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 112.
The river of Lewis … quhilk was that time, be inundation of snawis, boldin above the brayis 1533 Boece ix. xvi. 330.
His wame was boldin and hard 1535 Stewart 33329.
The lawe [of the men] come to the land, Bursin and boldin ilkane lyke ane taid 1596 Dalr. II. 256/29.
Tha, … quhais bagis ar boldne ful of the kirk geir(b) c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 140 b/32.
In sorrow ay thay sitt, Bowdin and bleird a1585 Polwart Flyt. 559.
With blasted bowels, bowden with bruised blude 1596 Dalr. I. 32/6.
In winter quhen they [sc. the cattle] ar … throuch fatnes weil bowdin 1595 Duncan Appendix.
Turgidus, bowden

b. Affected by extreme grief, anger, pride, etc.(a) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1094.
Scho lukit to the tre, For hir sueit sone all boldin into pane 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. lviii.
Boldin in maist brime fury, [thay] set thaim to revenge the samin Ib. II. 207.
Hir vennomos ire wes boldin every day with mair indignation Id. Livy I. 42/33; etc.
Diuers cieteis … quhilkis war boldin with grete haterent agains thame c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3885.
The byschoppis … grew so boildin in thare breistis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 133.
Science … without the heit of cheritie … makis men bowldin and heicht(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 346.
My breist, … bowdyn wes sa huge, That neir my baret out brist 15.. Christis K. 145.
The toun sowtar in greif wes bowdin a1578 Pitsc. I. 68/3.
The wicked ingyne of man, boudin wpe witht all consait of malice

2. ppl. a. (In above senses.)a. 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 36.
Hir vennamus ȝallo boldyn nek 1535 Stewart 29158.
Ane lipper man … With plowkie visage, bowdin brow and bre c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 140 b/33.
Thay boldin blerit bawch bobbis [= souters] 1587-99 Hume iii. 37.
The birds with boulden throts, … Takes vp their kindelie musicke nots 1604-31 Craig vi. 4/8.
The sinuose Forth, Whois bouldin billoes … Shall set thee sure upone there yonder shoreb. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 71/2.
Auld haterent … quhilkis thai bure with boldin hartis aganis the Romanis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4052.
Thare bursin wer the boildin breistis off byschoppis 1567 Sat. P. vii. 113.
That bowdin, bludy beist Bothwell c1590 J. Stewart 50/79.
Sic birnand brands his bowdin brest did bind 1587-99 Hume iv. 191.
My hart within my bowdin breist I feill revert