Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
BULLISTER, Boolastar, n. Also billister.
†1. “A large sloe, wild plum. The name is also applied to the bush on which this fruit grows” (w.Sc. 1887 Jam.6; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 100; w.Dmf. 1899 J. Shaw Country Schoolmaster 345). Prunus spinosa.Gall. 1824 Old Song in MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 411:
O! sourer than the green bullister, Is a kiss o' Robin-a-Ree.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan III. i.:
He hasna a heart bigger than a billister.
2. “A potato apple” (e.Rs.1 1929, boolastar).
[O.Sc. bulister, a wild plum tree, 1526 (D.O.S.T.); E.M.E. bullester, bolaster (1500). Phs. a reduced form of bolas tre (c.1440) (see N.E.D. s.v. bullace); O.Fr. (13th cent.) beloce, wild plum (Hatz. and Darm.).]
