Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BLACK-STRIPPIT BA', n. Also black-strippit ball, black striped ball. Bull's eye, a sweet.Abd. 1985 Robbie Kydd in Alexander Scott New Writing Scotland 3 41:
There are aniseed balls and black-strippit balls and sugar-elly straps and sherbet bags, all a haipny each. Fif. 1985 Christopher Rush A Twelvemonth and a Day 14:
Agnes went round the shelves with the line: a tin of Lyle's Golden Syrup; a tin of Fowler's treacle; a half pound of margarine; a half a dozen eggs; a tea loaf; a packet of Rinso; a bar of Sunlight; a packet of Woodbine; and a quarter of black striped balls. Edb. 1991:
When I wis wee I used tae get a bag o mixed sweeties an ma mither yaised tae pick oot aw the black-strippit baws fur hersel.Lnk. 1926 G. Blake Young Malcolm ii.:
“Black-strippit ba's” — they do not speak of bulls' eyes on Clydeside.
