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.
Quotation dates: 1718, 1915-1920, 1987-1988
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BUMBEE, n. The bumble-bee, humble-bee. Gen.Sc. [′bʌm′bi]Sc. 1718 Ramsay Chr. Kirke iii. xix. in Poems (1721):
The Wives and Gytlings a' span'd out O'er Middings, and o'er Dykes, Wi' mony an unco Skirl and Shout, Like Bumbees frae their Bykes.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 90:
... he sprachles lik a bumbee thro the air
an gets a chairge o leidshot in his dowp.Edb. 1915 T. W. Paterson Auld Saws 91:
Eagles dinna spread their feathers Huntin for bum-bees.Gsw. 1987 Peter Mason C'mon Geeze Yer Patter! 85:
There's a bum-bee's nest at the fitty oor gairden. There's a bumble bee's nest at the bottom of our garden.Uls. c.1920 J. Logan Ulster in the X-rays (2nd ed.) vii.:
Yin wee lad . . . went happin' aboot through the hoose like a bum-bee, wi' a wee black bag in his haun.
Phr.: as plain as bumbees, very clearly.Arg. 1917 A. W. Blue Quay Head Tryst 116:
Juist apply the five main points an' oot comes the whole scheme o' the thoosan' years as plain as bumbees.
Combs.: (1) bumbee-byke, “a nest of humble bees” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2; Bnff.2 1937); see also Byke; (2) bumbee wark, “nonsense” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.).
[Bum, v.1, 1, + bee. The first appearance of bumbee (but in sense of bum-bailiff) is 1653 in Urquhart's Rabelais II. xi.: The Swissers, who had assembled themselves to the full number of the bumbees, and myrmidons. Not given in D.O.S.T., but bumbart, with the same meaning, is given.]
