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.
Quotation dates: 1866, 1925
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HULSTER, v., n. Also holster, huilster (Rxb.). Cf. Houster.
I. v. 1. To hoist a load on to one's back (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add.; Abd., Per. 1957), to struggle along under a heavy burden (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 83). Also with aboot or with. Vbl.n. hulsteran (Ib.). With refl. force: to rouse oneself, get under way, set to work (Ork. 1929 Marw., holster); "to make ready for departure" (Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 152). Phr. to holster (somebody) along, to help (someone) along by taking his arm (Dmf. 1957).Abd.7 1925:
Often I have heard it said of a little girl who had a baby to carry in her arms that she "wisna fit t' hulster with that bairn." It may mean the carrying of too heavy a burden.
2. To be overburdened with clothes, to clutter oneself up with too many garments (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Ppl.adj. hulstert, untidily bunched or rucked up, in an untidy pile (Abd., Rxb. 1957).
3. To walk heavily as if laden, to drag one's feet along (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 83; Abd. 1957). Also ppl.adj. hulstrin' (Ib.).
II. n. 1. An upwards hoist, a push (Abd. 1925; Bnff., Abd., Per. 1957).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 83:
Gee ma birn a hulster on a ma back.
2. A load of any kind (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add.).
3. A big awkward person (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 83), a clumsy, untidily-dressed person (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
[Of uncertain orig. Cf. Houster. In sense 2. of the v., the word may be a back-formation from Eng. upholster, v.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Hulster v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hulster>
