ppl. a. Also 6–7 bost(e. [f. BOSS sb.1 and v.1]
1. Made to swell out or project, rounded out.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg. [The thigh bone] is receyued in the pyt of the hukcle bone and is somwhat bossed outwarde.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 35. Where the Patel is thickest, and bossed forth like the middest of a buckler.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 8. The arteries … are straight and euen without any bossed knottes at all.
1644. J. Carter, Nail & Wheel (1647), 21. They [nails] have great and glorious bossed and gilded heads.
2. Raised or beaten in relief, embossed; also, portrayed in relief.
1536. in Antiq. Sarisb. (1771), 195. Two pair of Censers, silver and gilt, of bossed work.
1675. Lond. Gaz., No. 1002/4. Stoln out of Westminster Abbey … Two large Silver Candlesticks, Boss’d and Gilt.
1833. Tennyson, Poems, 83. With chalices of curious wine … And bossèd salvers.
1850. Blackie, Æschylus, II. 189. Upon his shield he bears … a woman Leading with sober pace an armed man All bossed in gold.
3. Furnished with bosses or projecting ornaments.
1611. Bp. Hall, Serm., v. 55. Lucian compares his Grecians, to a fair, gilt, bossed book.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., VII. 424. One of His Play-fellows proffered Him a bossed-plated Bible to stand upon.
1705. Hearne, Diary (1835), I. 120. [A book] covered with velvet and boss’d with Silver.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., II. 131. Leaping up, he took The reins in hand and the bossed leather shook.
b. Studded, ornamented.
1586. W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 82. Weedes meete for a princely mayden, Boste with Ermines white.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 355. Fine Linnen, Turky cushions bost with pearle.
a. 1627. Middleton, Black Bk., Wks. V. 567. Hangers, all bost with pillars of gold.
