A variant or archaic term, possibly relating to a small dwelling or structure (dialectal or Irish English).
Possibly from Irish Gaelic 'bothán' or similar Celtic roots meaning a small hut or cottage. This word appears rarely in English texts and may be primarily dialectal or historical.
Celtic languages have influenced English vocabulary in surprising ways, especially words for humble dwellings—'boithrin' might be a rare survivor of this contact, reminding us that English absorbed thousands of words from its island neighbors!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.