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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BLOUSTER, Bluister, Bluester, n. and v. Also blowster, blister. [′blɔustər Ork.; ′blʌustər Bnff., Ags., sm.Sc., s.Sc.; ′blustər Kcb.; ′blystər Kcb., Dmf., Rxb.; ′blistɪr Arg.]

I. n.

1. (1) A violent wind with squalls. See also Bloster, n., 1.Ork. 1929 Marw.; Bnff.² 1935:
It's a perfect b[louster] o' wind the day.Ork. 1995 Orcadian 2 Nov 14:
Anyway, the tempest of early Wednesday morning was a feather in the wind compared to the henhouse-wrecking blowster of January 1952.

Hence bluistery, of weather: blustery.Ags. 1887 A. D. Willock Rosetty Ends 184:
On a cauld bluistery nicht word cam' up-by frae the shore.Dmf. 1874 R. Wanlock Moorland Rhymes 7:
There's three months o' bluister tae ilk' ane o' sun.

(2) “A blast of wind” (w.–s.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

(3) (See quot.)Kcb.⁹ 1935; w.Dmf. 1925 W. A. Scott in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 18:
A bluister o' a day; a wet, windy day.

Also used fig. of a person, meaning (a state of) great fuss or excitement.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He's in a bonny b[louster] the day.Ags. 1870 Kirriemuir Observer (1 July) 1/3:
[It] maun be a blouster to begin wi', an syne end in a natral death.

2. “A boaster, braggart” (Bnff.² 1935; Kcb.⁸ 1914).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 76:
Bluester, a bully of words.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 94 Note:
Bluister, one who uproariously boasts of his own powers or doings.

II. v.

1. Of the wind: to blow gustily and with violence. Given for s.Rxb. by Watson W.-B. (1923). Gen. used as a ppl.adj.Kcb.⁸ 1914:
A blousterin win'.

2. “To brag, boast” (Bnff.² 1935).Ags. 1870 Kirriemuir Observer (7 Oct.) 3/3:
Nane of them can beat her at bullyin' an' blousterin'.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 21:
Na, he'll blouster till he draps on the flair
or spews up his ring as he stotters hame,
syne faas intae bed and lies goggit there,
snortlin or the morn and the heidstound and the shame ... Kcb.⁸ 1914:
He's an awfu' man to blouster.

ppl.adj. bloustering, boasting.Slk. 1835 Hogg Tales Wars of Montrose III. 13:
I wonder where that great bloustering blockhead, my son Will, can be. vbl.n. bluistereen, boasting.Rxb.(D) 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes an Knowes 19:
A'm seek-staaed o the . . . preidfih bluistereen that a body offen hes ti thole.

3. To rant and rave, bluster. Gsw. 1860 J. Young Poorhouse Lays (1881) 75:
Auld Carle! ye've lucky soon began This year to blister an' to ban.