Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Burgeo(u)n, Burgio(u)n, v. Also: burgione, burjon(e, -joun, -jown. [ME. burgeon, burgion(e, burjon, -jown, etc. (14th c.), F. bourgeonner.]

1. intr. To bud or sprout; to begin to grow; to flourish or increase. 1456 Hay II. 128/10.
Than … the flouris and levis begynnis to burgeoun a1500 Henr. III. 147/44.
The wand of Aaron … to burioun nocht blynnis 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. Prol. 77.
The knoppit syonis … For till reuert and burgione ar maid abill c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxvii. 3.
Fresche flour of ȝouthe, new germyng to burgeoun 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 115.
In battill gyrs burgionys the banwart wyld Ib. xii. lv. 119.
Lyke as this ilk ceptour wand ȝhe see, … Sall nevir burgioun 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxxiv.
Ane herbe … quhilk burgeonis with gret fertilite in the said loch Ib. II. 326.
Thir eddaris … burgeon with mair plenteous nowmer than … in ony other partis 1533 Boece ix. i. 288.
Ald treis cuttit afore burgeonit and flurist

2. fig. To flourish; to break out. c1420 Wynt. ix. 2820.
He … all tym grew Ay buriownand [v.r. burionand] in bownte new c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 40/24.
In the spring of the ȝere mennis nature rysis and burgeonis as the tre & herbe 1531 Bell. Boece I. 37.
The peace ratefyit in this maner, the Scottis began to burgeoun in sicker peace Ib. 83.
He began to burgeon in every kind of vice 1533 Boece ix. x. 311 b.
During the tyme of Conwall … the cristin faith mervellusly amang Scottis flurist and burgeonyt c1550 Rolland C. Venus iii. 609.
With euill entent ȝour luif burgeonis & breidis

3. tr. To cause to bud or sprout. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 88.
For all the fruit suld I fang, thocht he the flour burgeoun 1513 Doug. x. Prol. 11.
Fresch veir to burgioun herbys and sweit flowris