First it meant “shoulder”, then by extension limb and limb of a tree, then the “shoulder” use faded away, remaining in only a few northern patches of Britain.

• 06.052 in the greenery of the topmost boughs.
• 06.052 in its boughs,
• 06.099 The eagles had brought up dry boughs for fuel,
• 07.134 almost beneath the great overhanging boughs
• 08.002 in the tangled boughs
• 08.041 and grimed from the old bark of the greater boughs;
• 08.113 and crawling along the boughs above the heads of the dwarves.
• 08.124 and the boughs less thick