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

BELEWYT, imperf. v. Delivered up.
V. [Beleif], v. 2.

BELGHE, s. Eructation, E. belch.
Z. Boyd.

BELYVE, BELIFF, BELIUE, BELIFE, adv.
1. Immediately, quickly.
Douglas.
2. By and by, S.
Barbour.
This seems to be the only modern sense of the term in S.
3. At length.
Douglas.
4. It is used in a singular sense, S. B. Litle belive, or bilive, a small remainder.
Popular Ball.

Chaucer belive, blive, quickly; Gower, blyve, id. Hickes mentions Franc. belibe, as signifying protinus, confestim; and Junius refers to Norm. Sax. bilive. This is certainly the same word; from Alem. and Franc. belib-an, manere; A. S. belif-an, id.

To BELY, v. a. To besiege.
Spotswood.

TO BELL THE CAT, to contend, with one, especially, of superior rank or power; to withstand him, either by words or actions; to use strong measures, without regard to consequences, S.
Godscroft.

Fr. Mettre la campane au chat, "to begin a quarrel, to raise a brabble; we say also, in the same sense, to hang the bell about the cat's neck." Cotgr.

To BELLER, v. n. To bubble up.
Bp. Galloway.

Isl. belg-ia, inflare buccas.

BELL-PENNY, s. Money laid up, for paying the expence of one's funeral; from the ancient use of the passing-bell. This word is still used in Aberbrothick.