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.
BU, n. [bu:]
1. The shoulder of an animal.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De (fore-)bus o' a sheep, coo, horse.Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 48:
The bu o' a cow, gude meat for his mou'.
2. “The bow of a vessel” (Ib.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Bnff.2 1936).
[Cf. O.N. bógr, shoulder (of an animal) (Zoëga); O.E. bōg, bōh, shoulder. See Beuch, etym. note.]