Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
‡BLŌGABEN, Blugga-bane, n. “The lugben [bone below the gill] of a fish” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). [′blogabɛn]Sh. 1882 Gentleman's Mag. CCLII. 471:
The blugga-banes of the turbot were always preserved in some secret chink in the wall of a fisherman's cottage, in order to insure luck.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Sh. Folk-Lore 135:
The blugga-banes of the halibut were stuck in the waa o' da lodge and under the eft hinnie spot o' da sixern [six-oar boat] for luck.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Blogaben, collar-bone of a halibut. From this bone a number of smaller bones branch out along the gills, and when the fish opens its mouth these are spread out in fan-shape.
