An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language Part 53

1. To swallow any liquid in small, but frequent draughts; whether the liquor be intoxicating or not, S.

2. To tipple, _v. n._ "He's ay _bebbling_ and drinking;" he is much given to tippling, S.

It seems to be formed from Lat. _bibere_ to drink, in the same manner as _bibulus_, soaking, drinking, or taking it wet.

BECHT, _part. pa._ Tied; Gl. Rudd.

Germ. _bieg-en_, flectere, is probably the origin.

_To_ BECK, BEK, _v. s._

1. To make obeisance, to cringe, S.

_Bannatyne Poems._

2. To curtsy; as restricted to the obeisance made by a woman, and contra-distinguished from bowing.

Isl. _beig-a_, Germ. _bieg-en_, to bow.

BECK, BEK, _s._ A curtsy, S.

_Maitland Poems._

BEDDY, _adj._ Expressive of a quality in grey-hounds; the sense uncertain.

_Watson's Coll._

It may signify, attentive to the cry of the huntsman. Fr. _baude_, "a cry as of hounds, Breton;" Cotgr. It may, however, be the same word which occurs in the S. Prov.; "Breeding wives are ay _beddie_;" Kelly, p. 75. "Covetous of some silly things," N. In this sense it is probably allied to Isl. _beid-a_, A. S. _bidd-an_, Moes. G. _bid-jan_, Belg.

_bidd-en_, to ask, to supplicate, to solicit.

BEDE, _pret._ Offered; from the v. ~Bid~.

_Sir Gawan and Sir Gal._

Chaucer uses the v. ~Bede~ as signifying to offer.

A. S. _baed_, obtulit, from _beodan_.

BEDELUIN, _part. pa._ Buried, hid under ground.

_Douglas._

A. S. _bedelfen_, sepultus, infossus; _be-delf-an_, circ.u.mfodere.

BEDENE, BY DENE, _adv._

1. Quickly, forthwith.

_Barbour._

2. It seems also to signify, besides, moreover; in addition, as respecting persons.

_Gawan and Gol._

3. It undoubtedly signifies, in succession, or "one after another."

_Gawan and Gol._

As _belyve_, very similar in sense, is undoubtedly the imperat. of _belif-an_, q. _wait_, _stay_; _bedene_ may have been formed in the same manner, from Germ. _bedien-en_, to serve, to obey.

BEDIS, _s. pl._ Prayers.

_King's Quair._

Germ. _bed-en_; Germ. _ge-bet_, prayer. Hence O. E. _bidde_, and the phrase, _to bidde prayers_, to ask, to solicit them.

BEDE-HOUSE, _s._ A term used for an alms-house, S. B.

_Statist. Acc._

BEDE-MAN, BEIDMAN, _s._

1. A person who resides in a bede-house, or is supported from the funds appropriated for this purpose, S.

_Statist. Acc._

2. In the Court of Exchequer, this term is used to denote one of that cla.s.s of paupers who enjoy the royal bounty. The designation has originated from some religious foundation, in times of popery. _Bedman_ occurs in O. E.

V. ~a.s.soilyie~, sense 3.

The origin is A. S. _bead_, a prayer. Hence, says Verstegan, the name of _Beads_, "they being made to pray on, and _Beadsman_."

BEDYIT, _part. pa._ Dipped.

_Douglas._

A. S. _deag-an_, tingere.