An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language Part 61

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."

BELLY-FLAUGHT.

1. To _slay_, or _flay_, _belly-flaught_, to bring the skin overhead, as in flaying a hare, S. B.

_Monroe's Iles._

2. It is used in Loth. and other provinces, in a sense considerably different; as denoting great eagerness or violence in approaching an object.

_Ramsay._

3. It is also rendered, "flat forward."

_J. Nicol._

BELLY-HUDDROUN.

V. ~Huddroun~.

BELLY-THRA, _s._ The colic.

_Gl. Complaynt._

A. S. _belg_, belly, and _thra_, affliction. This term, I am informed, is still used on the Border.

_To_ BELLWAVER, _v. n._

1. To straggle, to stroll, S.

2. To fluctuate, to be inconstant; applied to the mind, S.

I am informed, however, that the p.r.o.nunciation of the term in some places in the west of S. is _bullwaver_; and that it is primarily applied to a _bull_ when going after the cow, and hence transferred to man, when supposed to be engaged in some amorous pursuit.

The origin of the latter part of the v. is obvious; either from E.

_waver_ or L. B. _wayviare_, to stray. Perhaps the allusion may be to a ram or other animal, roaming with a _bell_ hung round its neck.

_To_ BELT, _v. a._

1. To gird, S.

Hence, in our old ballads _belted knights_ are often introduced.

2. To gird, metaph. used in relation to the mind.

_b.e.l.l.e.n.den._

3. To surround, to environ in a hostile manner.

_b.e.l.l.e.n.den._

Isl. _belt-a_, cingere zona.