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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HUBBLE, n., v.

I. n. 1. Bustle, confusion, disorder (Arg. 1930; Sh., m. and s.Sc. 1957; Ayr. 2000s) an uproar, a tumult (w. and s.Sc. 1825 Jam.), a fight, squabble; an unruly crowd, throng (Kcb. 1897 T. Murray Frae the Heather 15).Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems 103:
The sodger, too, for a his troubles, His hungry wames, and bluidy hubbles.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 267:
The ragabash were ordered back, And then began the hubble.Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 5:
But the Corse it was a' in a hubble.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (15 July):
Dey wir sic hubble wi' boys, jaagers, an' men.Arg. 1925 Campbeltown Courier 27:
Through glens where Highland cattle stray Far from the hubble of the town. Dmf. 1950s:
Everything is in a richt hubble fur days afore ye git the bairns ready tae gan back tae the skeel efter the lang simmer holidays. Sc. 1986 Jonathan Gash Tartan Sell 63:
A hubble of voices responded, on panicky shout stilled by a threat.

Comb. and phr.: ¶(1) hubblebub, rabble, riff-raff; (2) to be in a hubble o' work, to be very busy, to be “snowed under” with work (Sh., Dmf. 1957).(1) Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 41:
And priests wha i' the pulpit rant, And caper on a tub, At market-crosses, to attract The ragged hubblebub.(2) Dmf. 1827 Carlyle in Froude Early Life (1882) I. 423:
They'll a' be in a hubble o' work at home.

2. A difficulty, perplexity, trouble, “fix” (Tyr. 1931 North. Whig (15 Dec.) 10; Ayr., Kcb., Dmf. 1957).Ayr. 1885 J. Meikle Yachting Yarns 56:
The warst an' maist helpless bit o' humanity I iver was in a hubble wi'.Kcb. 1897 T. Murray Frae the Heather 119:
While wae to hear o' Davie's trouble, And blythe auld Bob in sic a hubble.ne.Sc. 1909 G. Greig Folk-Song No. VII. 2:
Fan ye wis in the hubble, Meg, Fa paid for you the fee?Lnk. 1910 C. Fraser Glengonnar 96:
The student . . . likit to redd oot the ravell'd hanks o' ither folks' yarn; so the hubble Duncan was in was like a haggis to him.

II. v. To trouble, perplex, put in a quandary. Hence hubbler, one who makes trouble, annoys or incites to anger, a squabbler (Ayr.⁴ 1928).Ayr. 1880 J. Tannock Poems 10:
Bamboosled, pestered, fashed an' hubbled.Peb. 1938 J. Dickson Poems 44:
Nae wonder folk's hubbled wi' sheep on high grun', When the tups' very whiskers'll no stan' the win'.