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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BLUBBER, n. and v.

1. n. A bubble of air. Given in N.E.D. as obs. except dial.Sc. ?a.1812 State, Leslie of Powis, etc. 136 (Jam.):
He has seen blubbers upon the water . . . by blubbers he means air-bubbles, such as arise from any fish or other animal breathing below water.

2. v.

(1) To make a bubbling noise.Bch. 1928 (per Abd.15):
Fat nott ye geen the geet sic a dish o' tay? He's jist blubbert amon't!

(2) To bespatter, mess with mud or liquid of any kind. Found only as ppl.adj.Abd.(D) 1767 R. Forbes Jnl. from London, etc. (1869) 17:
An' they were like to split their sides fan they saw how blubber'd and droukit the peer wary-draggels war fan they came in.

[O.Sc. blubbir, bluber, to blubber, emit bubbles' to besmear (D.O.S.T.). Mid.Eng. blober, bluber, n.; dial. Ger. blubbern, of water, to cast up bubbles (N.E.D.).]

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