Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PUGS, n.pl. In Mining: “a stratum of hard coal in a free coal seam” (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 53; Lnk. 1920 Econ. Geol. Cent. Coalfield VII. 35; Lnk. 1967).Lnk. 1902 R. W. Dron Coal-Fields 93:
In some districts a rib of cannel coal of fair quality is present, and over a large area the thickest of the splint-coal ribs is found as a bastard gas coal, known locally as “pugs”.