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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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BLUFFERT, Bliffert, Bliffart, Bleffert, Bleffart, n. and v. [′blʌfərt n.Sc. but Bnff., Abd., Bch., Mearns, Ayr. + ′blɪfərt; ′blɛfərt Abd., Mearns]

1. n.

(1) “A squall; generally conveying the idea of wind and rain” (Abd., Mearns 1825 Jam.², s.v. bleffert, bliffert; Ags.¹ 1935).ne.Sc. 1979 Alastair Mackie in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 65:
The stobs o the win-break sprauchle
in the blufferts o this west wind
that gars the reid flag on the tee flame.Mry.¹ 1925:
A bluffert o' win' cam' an cairrit awa' the heid o' the strae ruck.Bnff.⁷ 1928Abd. 1844 W. Thom Rhymes and Recoll., etc. 71:
Thro' blifferts o' caul' they yaumer an' yaul, An' want ye to warm them, May.Abd.(D) 1900 C. Murray Hamewith 49:
What fell bluffert blew him here.Abd.¹⁹ 1935Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 5:
The stooks ay uphaud ane anither agin blufferts o storm an the win that blatteret the bare rigs - like a faimly, fyles.em.Sc. 1991 Neil R. MacCallum in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 160:
Barin til the bleffarts
The sleet and the rain.Ayr. 1913 W. Kissock Sc. and Eng. Poems (per Ayr.⁴):
Bliffart, a squall.

(2) (See quot.)Mearns 1825 Jam.²:
Bleffert, Bliffert. A sudden and violent fall of snow, but not of long continuance.

(3) “A blow, a stroke” (Mearns, Ags. 1825 Jam.², s.v. bluffert).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 13:
He widna haud's tung, an' a ga 'im a bliffart o' the side o' the hehd.

(4) fig. “The attack of calamity” (Abd. 1825 Jam.², s.v. bleffert).Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 28:
No; rather let's ilk daintie sip, . . . An' every adverse bliffert hip.

2. v. “To bluster, as the wind” (Abd. 1825 Jam.², s.v. bluffert).

Hence bluffertin, ppl.adj., blustering, gusty (Abd. 1825 Jam.²).