Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

BULLIN, BULLEN, BULLON, BULLAN, n. and v. [′bʌlɪn, ′bʌlən]

1. n. “A heap” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., bullen); “a pile of peats or tangles built up for drying” (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Cai.⁷ 1937). See also bulin, idem, s.v. Bol, n.², v.²Sh. 1900 Sh. News (23 June):
Betty an' I pat da paets in bullins mair is [than] a ook frae syne.Ork. 1910 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. III. i. 32:
A week or twa efter whin ane o' 'is neebors waar cairtan hame dere pates, dey fand Tammy's knife stickan i ane o' da bullons.

2. v. Of peats: to stack (Cai.⁷ 1937, bullan-ower).Ork. 1767-73 P. Fea MS. Diary (17 Sept., 4 Aug.): 
Sent Jo Hay and 5 others to kase and bullan what peats I had in the Calf. . . . My peats all down save a few not bullan'd.