Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

BUMMEL, BUMMLE, BUMMIL, Bumbl(e), Bumbel, Bommel, v., n. Cf. Beml. [bʌm(b)l, bɔml]

1. v.

(1) To bubble, boil up. Ppl.adj. bumbling, seething.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De kettle bumbels, is bumblin.s.Sc. 1835–1840 J. M. Wilson Tales of the Borders (1857) IX. 91:
I'll send ye, pack an' a', sixty yards lower into the bumbling pool o' Balachun Linn.

(2) “To make a splash in the sea” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1914 Angus Gl.); to tumble (about).Sc. 1928 W. Wood in Scots Mag. (Jan.) 303:
The gear o' wife an' men an' weans Is bummilin' on the float.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To b[ummel] trough de water (of one not very good at swimming). He bummeld or bommeld atill a hole, he tumbled into a hole.

2. n. A splash; the noise produced by a splash or fall (Sh. 1825 Jam.², bummle; 1866 Edm. Gl., bumbl).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
A b[ummel] o' de ayre [“oar”], a splash of an oar; a b[ummel] i' de sea, agitation in the sea.