Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

BILTER, n.

1. “A child” (Dmf. 1808 Jam.).Rnf. 1899 J. Shaw Country Schoolmaster 344:
In Renfrewshire a thriving child was a “big bilter.”

2. (See quot.)Dmf. 1899 Ib.:
Bilter . . . a minnow. Dumfriesshire. Perhaps a generalised idea of “a little one.”