Now only dial. [f. prec.]
† 1. trans. a. To capture (birds) by the use of a low-bell. b. transf. To scare or bewilder as the lowbeller does birds. Obs.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., IV. iv. (1588), 444. If any person whatsoever, have taken … any Phesants or Partriches … by lowbelling or tramelling.
1642. Broken Title Episcop. Inher., § 2. A muster of a few Exoticke obsolete Saxon termes to Low-bell his Ignorant Examiner.
1651. R. Child, in Hartlib’s Legacy (1655), 91. Larks … may be taken in snares, or by day-nets, Low-belling, &c.
1660. H. More, Myst. Godl., To Rdr. 23. Weak Christians … are so low-belled by this terror as to be taken up and captivated by the Church of Rome. Ibid., 24. [They] do not low-bell men into their own errour by either uncharitable censurings or bloudy persecutions.
2. dial. To greet with ‘rough music’ (i.e., beating of pots and kettles, blowing of horns, etc.) as an expression of popular disapprobation.
Current in Northants, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire: see E. D. D.
Hence Lowbeller, † (a) one who uses a lowbell in fowling (obs.); (b) dial. one who joins in ‘lowbelling’ an unpopular person.
1581. Act 23 Eliz., c. 10 § 6. This acte shal not … extende to Lowbellers, Tramellers or others, which shall vnwillingly happen to take any Partridges.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Low-beller, one that goes a Fowling with a Light and a Bell.
