An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language / in which the words are explained in their different senses, authorized by the names of the writers by whom they are used, or the titles of the works in which they occur, and deduced from their originals

by John Jamieson

This was one of the Christmas sports; and, as the ancient Saturnalia levelled all distinction of ranks, the design of this amusement was to ridicule the solemnity of the proceedings of an Abbot, or other dignified clergyman. It is the same with the Abbot of Misrule, and distinguished in name only from the Boy-Bishop, characters formerly well known both in England and in France. The principal personage was denominated the Abbot of Unreason, because his actings were inconsistent with reason, and merely meant to excite mirth.

ABEE. To let abee. To let alone, to bear with, not to meddle with, S.

To let be, E.

Ritson.

ABEECH, ABIEGH, adv. Aloof, "at a shy distance," chiefly used in the west of S.
Stand abeigh, keep aloof.
Burns.

Fr. aboy, O. Fr. abai, abay, abbais; E. at bay, O. E. abay.

ABERAND, part. pr. Going astray.

Lat. aberrans, E. aberring.

Bellenden.

To ABHOR, v. a. To fill with horror.
Lyndsay.