bauson arch.
(ˈbɔːsən)
Forms: 4–6 bausen, 4–7 bawson, 4– bauson; also 4 baucyne, bawcyn, 5 bawsone, -ym, (bawstone, bauston), 6 bauzon, bawsym, (balstone), 7 boson, 8 bawsin, (boreson).
[ME. bausen, a. OF. bausen, bauzan, see next word, the animal taking its name from the white mark on its face: cf. bauson-faced. See badger n.2 for the etymological parallel of F. blaireau badger, from Flem. blaer, Du. blaar white spot on the forehead. (But in Fr., bausen, etc., has never been applied to the badger, and its being so used in Eng. implies a much earlier use of the adj. than we have evidence of.)]
A. n. A badger; see badger n.2
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 392 Bukkez, bausenez, & bulez to þe bonkkez hyȝed. c 1350 Will. Palerne 2299 Bores boles and baucynes. 1387 Trevisa Higden Rolls Ser. I. 327 White beres, bausons, and brokkes. 1496 Dives & Paup. vi. xiv. 256 Taxus..is a brok or a bawsym in Englysshe. 1587 M. Grove Poems (1878) 67 The wilie subtile foxe The balstone or [printed on] the grey doth chase and beate from cliuie rocks. 1593 Drayton Eclog. iv. 176 His Mittens were of Bauzons skin. 1741 Compl. Fam.-Piece ii. i. 298 A Badger is known by several Names, as a Gray, a Brock, a Boreson or Bauson. 1783 Ainsworth Lat. Dict. (Morell) 1, A bawsin, melis. |
b. applied contemptuously to persons, fat (like the badger before winter), or pertinacious.
| 1607 Lingua v. xvi. in Hazl. Dodsl. IX. 452 Peace, you fat bawson, peace. 1862 H. Ainsworth Constable of T. 131 Know, ye incredulous bawsons, that I am now one of the royal household. |
B. adj. = bausoned. Hence bauson-faced.
| 1587 Wills & Inv. N.C. (1860) 288 One stud mare of colour bawson sored. 1829 Scott Hrt. Midl. xxviii, Ye might try it on the bauson-faced year-auld quey. |