Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
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.
BUFFIE, Buffy, Baffy, adj. Also bowfy. [′bʌfɪ̢, ′bɑfɪ̢]
1. “Fat, purfled; applied to the face” (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff.2, Abd.22 1936); chubby. Applied also to other parts of the body, or to the body as a whole. Also in comb., baffy-heided (Fif.10 1936).Sc. 1929 A. M. Murray in Scots Mag. (April) 23:
Awa' oot o' here! . . . If ye dinna — . . . I'll throw this at ye . . . ye, ye muckle baffy-heided . . .Mry. 1875 W. Tester Poems 13:
She rubs it wi' her bowfy han' to ease the blindin' pain.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie's Wallet i.:
E'en wee buffy Jock, an' his daft titty Bess, A' yaummer for Patie the Packman.Rnf. 1865 J. Young Homely Pictures 52; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Their buffie hauns they clap wi' glee.
2. “Shaggy; as, ‘a buffie head,' when the hair is both copious and dishevelled” (Fif. 1825 Jam.2).
[From Buff, v.1 (1), q.v.]
