Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HULLIE, adj., n., v.1 Also hully. [′hʌle]
I. adj. Hollow (Fif. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 247; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein).e.Lth. 1885 J. Lumsden Rhymes & Sk. 207:
There's Pintail, noo, . . . will sit an hear his best freend on earth grow hully an' hairse.
II. n. 1. A hollow, a vale.e.Lth. 1908 J. Lumsden Th' Loudons 275:
An' thro' that hully blawin'!
2. A receptacle used for storing crabs and lobsters in a live state by east coast fishermen; formerly holes in the rocks below the high water mark were employed but these were later replaced by wicker baskets or fish boxes, anchored in the harbour (Bwk. 1957). Also used in Nhb., Yks. and Cornwall.e.Lth. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 II. 85:
The lobsters are preserved in pits cut out of the rock, within sea mark, which are called hullies.Bwk. 1923:
At Burnmouth, Berwickshire, they used to store their crabs in hollows in the rocks, and they spoke of throwing the crabs in the hullies. Now they use baskets, which they still call “hullies”.e.Lth. 1930 P. F. Anson Fishing Boats 64:
Lobsters were kept fresh in pits, locally called “hullies,” and sent by sea to London [from Dunbar].
III. v. To store live crabs or lobsters in a hully. See n., 2.Bwk.2 1957:
The only shellfish we hully are lobsters and crabs.
