Sc. Law. Now only in plural. Also 5 -burgh, pl. -borowis, -bowrous, -boris, 7–9 -burrows. [f. LAW sb.1 + BORROW sb.] The legal security required from a person that he will not injure the person, family or property of another; security of the peace. Also action, bond of law-borrows. To swear a law-borrows against (a person): to make an affidavit of being in danger from him.
1457. Sc. Acts Jas. II. (1814), II. 51/1. And gif ony man be fedyt … þe schirref sall furthwithe of bath þe parteis tak law borowis.
1474. Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 406. He was nocht under law borrowis anent the said William of Cadiou. Ibid. (1484), 40. William Futhes is becumin law burgh that William Vmfray salbe vnscathit in tym cuming.
1597. Sc. Acts Jas. II., § 13, heading. The Proclamation of generall peace: Of law-burrowes.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Crimes, 142. Gif ane complains to the Schiref, and desires lawborrows of ane other man; and the Schiref doe not his office thereanent, he sall pay fourtie poundes.
1752. J. Louthian, Form of Process, App. (ed. 2), 281. Interdictions, Inhibitions, and Law-burrows.
1864. A. Leighton, Leg. Edin. (1886), 171. Had forced the deacon to swear a lawborrows against him.
1884. Manch. Exam., 18 Sept., 5/5. John Fraser, sheriff officer, raised an action of lawburrows against John Norrie Anderson.
fig. 1636. Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. 174. Men would have law-borrows against Christ’s cross.
