besow

Cornish

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

besow m (singulative besowen)

1. (collective) birches

Mutation

  Mutation of besow  

Cornish consonant mutation
unmutated	soft	aspirate	hard	mixed	mixed after 'th
besow	vesow	unchanged	pesow	fesow	vesow

English

Etymology

From Middle English besowen, bisawen, from Old English besāwan (“to sow, sow about”); equivalent to be- +‎ sow. Cognate with Middle High German besǣjen (“to besow”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɪˈsəʊ/

Verb

besow (third-person singular simple present besows, present participle besowing, simple past besowed, past participle besown or besowed)

1. (transitive) To sow; sow all around or about; scatter; disperse; plant.
   • 1898, International Association of Factory Inspectors, Annual convention of the International Association of Factory Inspectors:

     [...] is to miss for him all the advantage our civilization is prepared to besow upon his childhood.

Anagrams

• Bowes, bowes, bowse