Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BYLIE, BYLLIE, n. Also bielie (Slk. 1909 W. S. Brown Ne'er-do- Well 50). Other forms of Bailie, q.v. [′bəili]

1. A city magistrate. Gen.Sc.Hdg. 1876 J. Teenan Song and Satire 24:
What fun was at the Provost's banquet! — Ae worthy Bylie sung a sang.

2. “A water bailiff” (Borders 1938 (per Lnk.³)).

3. A cattle-man on a farm (Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹, Ags.¹⁷, Lnk.³ 1938).L.Bnff.(D) 1934 J. M. Caie Kindly North 13:
I ken fat's comin' neist — I maun ca' the orra beast, Or gyang an' help the byllie wi' the nowt.Abd. 1922 J.W. in Bnffsh. Jnl. (25 April) 8:
Noo, fin' I was a bylie, an' mucket the greeps.