Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BAR, BARR, BAWR, BAUR, n.2 [Phonetics as Bar,n.1]
1. A joke, a humorous situation, a practical joke. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1988 Scotsman 27 Apr :
How sad it is that still the unfunny old bawr is perpetuated in political circles, of Scotland's Enlightenment emerging full-grown from the Union of Parliaments ... Sh.4 1933.Bnff. 1929 Knappies at the Rural in Bnffsh. Jnl. (1 Oct.) 2/4:
“Fat!” bawled Hilly, “the minister tellin' bars.”Abd.(D) 1929 Mains and Hilly in Abd. Wkly. Jnl. (21 March) 6/4:
I wis wintin' tae hae a bar wi' her gin her hens was layin'.Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 48:
Maisie hated Broon Hoolet wi a strouth as deep's the Irish Sea an as braid's the Sahara Desert. There wis naethin Christian, as far as she kent, in makkin a gype ooto a littlin wi a chaip baur like yon. Ags. 1896 J. M. Barrie Sentimental Tommy xxi.:
“What are you goucking at?” asked Francie, in surprise, for as a rule Tommy only laughed behind his face. “I winna tell you,” chuckled Tommy; “but what a bar, oh! what a divert!”m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 51:
But satire, baurs an flytin, inter alia,
in sprush, trig vairses are nae bard's disgrace ...
lauchter is gey near poetrie, eftir aw. Slg. 1932 W. D. Cocker Poems 40:
The neebours heard tell o' the story, An' losh! but they thocht it a baur.Fif. 1928 Punch (22 Aug.) 220/2:
“Man,” says Angus, giein' the King a friendly push, “what a bar! You can taste it and they canna. Man, it's magnificent.”Dmb. 1931 A. J. Cronin Hatter's Castle 512:
I tell ye what might be a bawr though . . . something that would cut her to the quick.Arg.1 1929:
He wuz in hevn a bar wi' Peter the day.Gsw.(D) 1902 J. J. Bell Wee MacGreegor xiv.:
“It was a daft kin' o' hen onywey,” said the boy scornfully. “Aw, it jist done it fur a bawr,” said John.Kcb. 1893 S. R. Crockett Stickit Minister vi.:
Ye maun hae had some queer bars, Tammas, in your time.Wgt., Dmf. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
barr a funny story or incident
2. “A striking incident, the narration of such incident” (Uls.2 1929).
[Origin doubtful. Bar, a game, is possible.]
