Dictionary

boln en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /boʊln/

Etymology

From Middle English bolnen, bollen, from Old Norse bólgna, from bolginn (“swollen”), past participle of a verb represented by Old English belgan (“to swell”). Compare Swedish bulna (“to swell, be swollen”), Danish bolne (“to swell, be swollen”). Related to belly, bellows.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) Swollen; puffed out.
   • The Riuer, as running along the ſide of the City; in a skinne made like fleſh, naked, and blevv. His mantle of ſea-greene or vvater colour, thinne, and bolne out like a ſayle; […] 1604 March 25 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), B[en] Jon[son], “The Pegme at Fen-church”, in B. Jon: His Part of King James His Royall and Magnificent Entertainement through His Honorable Cittie of London, Thurseday the 15. of March. 1603. […], London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] [and George Eld] for Edward Blount, published 1604, →OCLC, signature A3, verso:

Forms

Synonyms

bulging · distended · turgid · extuberant · swollen · tumid · distended · boln · puffed · bulging · protuberant · bulled · nodose · farced · tumid

boln en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /boʊln/

Etymology

From Middle English bolnen, bollen, from Old Norse bólgna, from bolginn (“swollen”), past participle of a verb represented by Old English belgan (“to swell”). Compare Swedish bulna (“to swell, be swollen”), Danish bolne (“to swell, be swollen”). Related to belly, bellows.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) To swell; to puff.
   • For it is better to Sleepe lyttle and somewhat wyth watching to soke away humous, then immoderatly to bolne, swell and therewyth throughly to be cloyed. 1576, Thomas Newton, The Touchstone of Complexions, translating Levinus Lemnius, De habitu et constitutione corporis
   • and when the great raines or water cometh and ſinketh thorow the gravell, and cometh to the earth, then the earth ſwelleth and bolneth, and waxeth ſoft, and with treading, and eſpecially with carriage, the gravel ſinketh and goeth downwards; […] 1523, John Fitzherbert, The boke of husbandry, quoted in Richard Bradley, A Complete Body of Husbandry, published 1727, page 274
   • Se howe this toode bolneth: 1530, John Palsgrave, Lesclarcissement de la langue Francoyse, page 460:

Forms