Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BLAG, Blaag, n. and v.
1. n. Interval, breathing-space, rest.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Halt dy hands and tak' a b[lag]!
2. v.
(1) “To fling; throw; throw away, to b[lag] awa; b[lag] dee doonl throw yourself down. To b[lag] de sail, to lower the sail, on a vessel, boat. At times (rarely) in the expr.: ‘to b[lag] de (ane's) and or ænd [lit. breath, see Aynd],' to give up the ghost; to die, he's blaget his ænd (and)” (Ib.).
Hence adj. “blaagit, dead” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).
(2) “To b[lag] anesell, to breathe; take a (little) rest; b[lag] deel rest a little! = tak' a b[lag]” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[O.N. blaka, to flutter, wave (Zoëga), Fær. blaka, to throw, fling (Jak.).]
