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.
BOOLIVER, n. "Used deseriptively of big fat-bellied fish. 'That's a right booliver,' of a fine, fat cod" (Ork. 1929 Marw. s.v. bool and booliver). [′bulivər]
[Prob. the same word as Mod.Ger. bollwerk, Dan. bulverk, Eng. bulwark, from O.N. bolr, bulr, bole of a tree, trunk of a body, and verk = Eng. work. The comb. meant orig. a structure of wood, hence something large and clumsy. See also Marw., s.v.]
