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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

BLOUT, Blowt, n. and v. Cf. Bloit. [′blʌut]

1. n.

(1) A sudden eruption of liquid substance, accompanied by noise.Ayr.4 1928:
The barrel burst and the water cam oot wi' a blout.

(2) A sudden burst: (a) of wind, rain, hail, etc.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
A blout of foul weather.Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 63:
An' vernal win's, wi' bitter blout, Out o'er our chimlas blaw.Ags. 1786 ? C. Keith Har'st Rig (1794) 27:
For 'tis a blout will soon be laid, And we may hap us in our plaid, Till it blaws o'er.

(b) especially applied to flatulency.Fif. 1875 “Poute” The Book of Nettercaps 29:
There's nae saat sae Saat Saat as mine. It dispels Wundy blowts. I sell it in pecks.

(3) “The noise made by porridge, broth, etc., when boiling over a strong fire; the portions ejected from a pot or cauldron of fiercely boiling water, etc.” (w.Sc. 1887 Jam.6, s.v. blouts; Ayr.8 1935).

(4) The foul water thrown from a washing tub. Gen. in pl. Cf. Blot, n.w.Sc. 1887 Jam.6:
“Keep your blouts for your ain kail yard,” is still said to a person who is making a present of some useless or used-up article. The expression refers to the thrifty practice of using the blouts, or dirty soap suds, as guidin or manure for the kail-yard.

(5) “A patch of cow dung” (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Also used fig.:Ib.:
“A b[lout] o' a fellow,” a soft-looking lump of a fellow.

(6) A clot (of blood).Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 338:
Wringin her hauns, as if washin them in the cleansin dews frae the blouts o' blood.

2. v.

(1) Applied to liquids: to belch, to rush out with force. Also tr. to squirt out, eject with a spurt or gush. w.Sc. 1887 Jam.6, s.v. blowt:
The bung bowtit out, and the yill blowtit after't.Rnf. a.1794 A. Wilson Poems (1845) 202:
Till he be forced to blowt the gravie Just in his breeks!

(2) To make a plunking noise, to plop (see quot.). Sc. 1704 Rec. Sc. Ch. Hist. Soc. IX. 162:
Bounging or blouting, as when one puts one's finger into an empty bottle and draws it out again hastily and with force.

[O.N. blautr, soft, wet. Prob. from root of O.E. blāwan, to blow, imitative of the action and noise of the lips in the emission of breath or of the eruption of any liquid; hence something blown out, swelled, hence soft, pulpy, moist. In the kindred words Blost, Bloust, Blast, and the frequentatives Blouter, Bloster, similar developments of meaning may also be found.]

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