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.
Quotation dates: 1893-1933, 1988-1998
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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.]
