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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

Quotation dates: 1819, 1933-1934

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BILF, BULF, n.2

1. Something large and clumsy.Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick III. xi. 265:
Nursin' thae muckle bilfs o' kytes o' yours, it's gude for nae gear I can see.

2. Applied to a growing, sturdy, young, fellow.Bnff.4 1933:
Fat a bilf ye've growin sin I saw you last.Abd.9 1934:
He's growan' a big fat bulf.

Hence bulfie.Ags.1 1934:
A stout, podgy person was called a bulfie.

[See Belfert. Cf. Belch, Bilch. For interchange of ch and f, cf. erch and erf, s.v. Ergh (timid), Souch and Souf (a blow or a low sound), the obs. Thoch and Thof (though).]

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