Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BELLIBUCHT, BEILY-BUCHT, n. A hollow in a hill running transversely to the slope. From information gathered by Dmf.¹⁰ it is certain that the word is still in use in Kcb. and w.Dmf. as a common noun in the same sense as in the MacTaggart quot. [′bɛlɪbʌxt, ′bilibʌxt]Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 61:
Bellibuchts. Curious hollows in the sides of some hills, not running in the longitude way, as hollows mostly do, but the contrary.Dmf.¹⁰ 1934:
These beily-buchts are artificially or partly artificially made on the lee or bield side of a hill, and are now used for the shelter of sheep, some being edged with stone. They were once used as hiding-places for smugglers.