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

BOOST, s. A box.
V. [Buist].

BOR, BOIR, BORE, s.
1. A small hole or crevice; a place used for shelter, especially by smaller animals, S.
Sir Tristrem.
2. An opening in the clouds, when the sky is thick and gloomy, or during rain, is called a blue bore, S. It is sometimes used metaph.
Baillie.

Su. G. Germ. bor, terebra; Isl. bora, foramen; A. S. bor-ian, to pierce.

BORCH, BORGH, BOWRCH, BOROW, s. A surety. The term properly denotes a person who becomes bail for another, for whatever purpose.
Wallace.
2. A pledge; any thing laid in pawn.
Barbour.

The term occurs in both senses in O. E. A. S. borg, borh, fide-jussor; also, foenus; Germ. burge, a pledge. Su. G. borgen, suretyship. Ihre derives Su. G. and Isl. borg-a, to become surety, from berg-a, a periculo tueri, to protect from danger. The idea is certainly most natural: For what is suretyship, but warranting the safety of any person or thing?

To BORCH, v. a. To give a pledge or security for, to bail.
Wallace.

To BORROW, BORW, v. a.
1. To give security for; applied to property.
Wyntown.
2. To become surety for; applied to a person.
Baron Courts.

Su. G. borg-a, id.

To BORROW one, to urge one to drink, Ang.

When one pledges another in company, he engages to drink after him; and in ancient times it was generally understood, that he who pledged another, was engaged to drink an equal quantity.