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.
BLELLUM, n. “An idle talking fellow” (Ayr. 1808 Jam.). [′blɛləm]Sc. 1994 Pete Fortune in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 154:
In fact auld Tosh (bad auld blellum he is, mind ye) said he kent as much fur a fact, ... Dundee 1996 Matthew Fitt Pure Radge 18:
a bletherin, blusterin, drunken blellum, sae ye ur
whit a state tae git intae
voamit stens
doon
the back o yir jaiket.Lnk. 1895 W. Stewart Lilts and Larks frae Larkie 70:
Thus he raved, the senseless blellum.Ayr. 1790 Robert Burns Poems and Songs (1969) 443:
She tauld thee weel thou was a skellum,
A blethering, blustering, drunken blellum.Ayr. publ. 1808 Burns To Rev. J. McMath (Cent. ed.) vi.:
An' shall his fame an' honor bleed By worthless skellums, An' not a Muse erect her head To cowe the blellums?Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 75:
Blellum. An ignorant talkative fellow.
