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.
BELLUM, BELLIM, BELLAM, n. [′bɛləm]
1. Force, impetus; a blow; noise, din.Sc. 1719 Ramsay Poems (1721) 198:
I'm sure thou needs set little by To bide their Bellums.n.Sc. 1825 Jam.2; Cai.1 1920:
Bellam. A stroke or blow.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin (1868) xxxiv.:
Simon havin' done ample penance . . . in tholin' the full bellum o' Mrs Yettlin's tongue.Fif.7 1934:
The word “bellum” is still extensively used to denote “a row.”Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 164–165:
I was oblidg'd to tak a nap, To blunt the bellim o' the chat.Ayr. 1787 Burns Lament for W. Creech (Cent. ed.) ix.:
He wha could brawlie ward their bellum, Willie's awa!n., central Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 53:
Bellum. A rumpus, upstir, or loud noise.
2. A term of disrespect. This seems to be a mistake for Blellum, q.v.Cai.1 1934:
Bellum is very rarely used in Cai., and if so, as a term of disrespect.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 18:
Marianne! Don't listen tae this damp haiverin' bellum
Trust your daddy, he kens whit's guid for ye! Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 94:
Ye'll sometimes like to weet yer throttle Wi' what some bellums ca' the bottle, An' I ca' whusky.
