Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BAA, BA, n. [bɑ:]

1. Surf on a sunken rock.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De ba is breakin'.Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 93:
Da sea wis fa'in' aboot wis laek baas, an' we wir haein' ta try an head him whin we hed a shance.

2. A sunken rock.Sh.(D) 1832 E. Charlton in Old-Lore Misc., Ork. Sh., etc. (1914) VII. iv. 153:
Dann tuik up Hermann da grit stane dat is now de baa of Hermann in Burrafiord, and he cuist it at Saxe.Sh. 1886 “G. Temple” Britta 186:
In the neighbouring parish of Durness, a large schooner was dashed to pieces on a sunken “baa.”Sh.⁴ 1932:
Still in common use.

3. A ridge of sand.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Combined with sand in sand-baa — a ridge of sand in a shallow bay causing a shoal.