Obs. In form = ‘Fatal or destroying fire,’ f. BALE a. or BALE sb.1; but used in the sense of BALE-FIRE 1, q.v.
c. 1430. Chev. Assigne, 233. Þe ȝondere is my qwene · betrice she hette, In þe ȝondere balowe fyre · is buskedde to brenne. Ibid., 344. Brente here in þe balowe fyer alle to browne askes.
[Cf. 1855. Whitby Gloss., Bally-bleeze [Balow-blaze], a bonfire.]
