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.
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.]
