Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BOWK, Bouk, v. and n. [bʌuk]

1. v. (1) “To retch “ (Mry.¹ 1925, bowk, bouk; Bnff.⁹ 1927; Abd.⁹, Ags.¹, Edb.¹ 1935); to vomit (Ork. 1975).Rxb.(D) 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 14:
Ei says ei's leike ti bowk. A dinna wunder at eet; ei ett till ei was leike ti burst.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan II. ix.:
It [the sea] has fairly bouked him out; sic stuff wadna bide on its stomach.

(2) “To emit or eject smoke” (centr.–w. Rxb. 1923 Watson W .-B.); ppl.adj. bowkin.Rxb.(D) 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes an Knowes 18:
A keek oot ov a slaistert woark-place wundih on ti bowkin lums.

2. n. “A vomiting, or the retching preceding the same” (Abd.⁹, Ags.¹ 1935).Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 195:
An' syne he gaed a fearfu' bowk, An' bang'd them a' for spuein' Clear drink that day.