Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1835-1840, 1908-1928
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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.
