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.
BULK, BOLKI, n.
1. Bump, knot, small hump; used also, in a restricted sense, of the breast, bosom. See also Bilk.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To geng wi' de bare b[ulk], to go bare-breasted; put it in dy b[ulk]! put it in your bosom! — “under de b[ulk],” in the armpit under the jersey, to bear onyting under de b[ulk] . . . bolki.
Hence bulki, “a humpback” (Ib.).
‡2. “A haycock” (ne.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
[O.N. bulki, cargo; Norw. bulk, heap, Icel. bútki, hump, large knot (Torp); Eng. bulk.]