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

BONOCH, s. "A binding to tie a cow's hind legs when she is a-milking."
Kelly.

BONSPEL, s. A match, at the diversion of curling on the ice, between two opposite parties, S.
V. [Curl].
Graeme.

Belg. bonne, a village, a district, and spel, play; because the inhabitants of different villages or districts contend with each other in this sport, one parish, for example, challenging another. Or, the first syllable may be traced to Su. G. bonde, an husbandman.

BONXIE, s. The name given to the Skua Gull, Shetl.
Neill.

BOO, BOW, s. A term sometimes used to denote a farm-house or village, in conjunction with the proper name, Ang.

Su. G. bo, Isl. bu, boo, domicilium, a house or dwelling, also, a village; Moes. G. baua, id.

In the Orkney Islands, where the Gothic was long preserved in greater purity than in our country, the principal farm-house on an estate, or in any particular district of it, is in a great many instances called the Boll or Bow.

Barry.

BOODIES, pl. Ghosts, hobgoblins, Aberd.
Journal Lond.

It might be deduced from A. S. boda, a messenger, from bod-ian, to declare, to denounce. But it seems to be rather originally the same with C. B. bugudhai, hobgoblins, Gael. bodach, a ghost.