Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BULLYHORN, Boolyhorn, n. [′bʌlɪ̢hɔrn, ′buli-]
1. A game, a form of hide-and-seek (Ags.1 1937), (see second quot.). For form bootyhorn, see Ags. quot. s.v. Bool, n.1, 1.Ags. 1893 Arbroath Herald (11 May) 2/3:
Aboot the time oor Tam fell an' broke his shackle been playin' bullyhorn.Ags. 1934 G. M. Martin Dundee Worthies 181:
Bully Horn. A most enjoyable game for a cold night and taken part in by both boys and girls. A “goal” was selected, usually the cart entrance to a factory or wholesale trader's closed premises. After tossing for or mutually appointing a “goalie” the players scattered and hid themselves in some convenient spot easily accessible to the goal. When the party were hid, one of their number would shout “Bully Horn” and the goalie began his search. On “spying” a rival he named him and returned to the goal, and continued his search until all were spied. If, however, one of the “hiders” got to the goal first the game began again.Dundee 1987 Norman Lynn Row Laddie Sixty Years On 55-6:
Kick-the-can, Inamon, (whatever that meant), Relief or Relievo and Bullyhorn and had the element of conceal and search.
2. “A game played by boys. They ran in a long string with joined hands and tried to catch and ‘park' the boy chosen as ‘bull'” (Ags.16 1937).
