local. Also 7 bostal. [? f. OE. beorh a hill (BARROW sb.1) + OE. stíʓel(e, STILE. But the explanation ‘seat on the side or pitch of a hill’ given by Bp. Kennett (see Halliwell), suggests OE. *beorh-steall.] (See quot.)
1674. Ray, S. & E. Country Wds., 59. Bostal, a way up a hill. Suffolk.
1880. L. J. Jennings, Rambles among Hills, 199. One of the steep paths up the hillside known in the South Down district as böstalls or borstalls.
1884. H. G. Hewlett, in 19th. Cent., Aug., 330. The steep paths which wind up to the summit [of the Downs] retain their Saxon name of ‘borstalls.’
