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: 1796, 1873-1903, 1979
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BUMMIE, BUMMY, n.1 Also bummy-bee. [′bʌmɪ̢ Sc., ′bomi Sh.]
1. A humble-bee (Abd.2, Ags.1, Lnk.3 1937).Abd.(D) 1903 W. Watson Auld Lang Syne 31:
The Blaeberry Wood was . . . an ideal “happy hunting-ground” for . . . bummies and wasps' bykes.s.Sc. 1979 Lavinia Derwent A Border Bairn (1986) 140:
'Aye, she was great lass, Jessie. The lads were a' after her like a swarm o' bummy-bees.'Rxb. c.1885 W. Laidlaw Poetry and Prose (1904) 69:
The bummie hums upon the saugh.
2. “A stupid person, a fool” (Ags.1 1937; (Per., Slg. 1825 Jam.2).Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 248:
Some o' my cleverest skweel fellows turn't oot complete bummies in aifter life.Mearns 1796 J. Burness Thrummy Cap 9:
Ye senseless gude-for-naething bummy.
Comb.: bummie-snuit, “blockhead” (Ags. 1911 A. Warrack MS.).
[Dim. form suggested by Bum, to make a noise like a bumble-bee.]
