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.
BLOUST, BLOWST, BLUIST, n. and v. The form bloust is obsol. in Rxb. according to Watson Rxb. W.-B. (1923). [blyst Kcb., Rxb.; blʌust Ags., Fif., Bwk., Rxb.]
1. n.
(1) “Boast, boasting” (Ags.1 1935; centr.-s.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. s.v. bluist). Cf. Blost, n., 2 (3).Bwk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.2:
Bloust. An ostentatious account of one's own actions, a brag.Rxb. 1805 A. Scott Poems 131:
Or is't to pump a fool ye meddle, Wi' a' this bloust o' straining widdle.
(2) A boaster; a wind-bag.Bwk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.2:
Bloust. Often applied to an ostentatious person.Kcb.2 1925:
He's just an auld bluist.
2. v. “To brag, to boast” (Ags.1 1935; Bwk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.2, s.v. bloust; Gall. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.; w., s.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. s.v. bluist).Ags. 1853 W. Blair Chron. of Aberbrothock iii. 9:
You're aye blowstin' aboot your gain' up on heech hoose heeds.
ppl.adj. blowstin', bragging, boasting.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin (1868) xx.:
He's a blowstin' idiot.
