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

BELL-KITE, s. The bald Coot.
V. [Beld Cyttes].

BELLAN, s. Fight, combat.
Douglas.

Lat. bellum.

BELLE, s. Bonfire.
V. [Bail].

BELLING, s. The state of desiring the female; a term properly applied to harts.
Douglas.

Rudd. derives the phrase from Fr. belier, a ram; but perhaps it is rather from Isl. bael-a, bel-ia, baul-a, Germ. bell-en, mugire, boare.

BELLIS, s. pl.
Wallace.

BELLIT, adj. Bald.
Fordun.
Scotichron.

BELLY-BLIND, s. The play called Blind-man's buff, S. A.: [Blind Harie], synon. S.
Anciently this term denoted the person who was blindfolded in the game.
Lyndsay.

In Su. G. this game is called blind-bock, i. e. blind goat; and in Germ. blinde kuhe, q. blind cow. It is probable, that the term is the same with Billy Blynde, mentioned in the Tales of Wonder, and said to be the name of "a familiar spirit, or good genius."