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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.

BOUGER, Bowger, Bulker, n. The puffin, Fratercula arctica (Hebrides 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 220, bouger, bulker). Given as obs. in N.E.D. s.v. bowger.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Bowger, the puffin, or coulter-neb, a bird.
w.Islands 1698 M. Martin Voyage to St Kilda (1934) ii.:
The bouger, by those in St Kilda so called, . . . is of the size of a pidgeon, its bill is short . . . of two colours; near the head, of an ash colour, and red towards the point; the feet are yellow, the claws of a dark blue; all the back black, breast and belly white.

[Origin obscure.]

4063

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