We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BUFFLE, BUFLE, BUFFEL, v.

1. tr. “To push; shove; buffet” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), buffel); “to beat; to beat with repeated blows” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).

2. intr. “To walk with a clumsy, rolling gait; to work one's way through mud and snow, to geng buflin trough de snaw” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Slk. 1835 Hogg Tales Wars of Montrose III. 17:
I was like to dee wi' laughin' when I saw the bodies rinnin' bufflin' through the heather in their philabegs.

[Frequentative form of Buff, v.2, q.v. Cf. Sw.dial. buffla, to strike, thump; Norw. bufsa, to walk clumsily, tumble about. See Torp s.v. buff, and cf. Beufsae.]

4828

snd