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). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BAB, v. Sc. form of bob, with meanings partly as in St.Eng. and partly Sc.

1. As in Eng. bob. To move up and down, to rock.m.Sc. 1991 William Neill in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 49:
But ben the ha thare's fouth o spies
wha bab an bou an steal;
thay ken it wull be nae surprise
when this yin gaes as weill.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 198:
We lay babbin in the mouth o' the loch.

2. Sc. meanings.

(1) To dance (cf. Eng. dial. bob).Sc. 1716 Ramsay Chr. Kirke in Poems (1721) ii. x.:
The Lasses bab'd about the Reel Gar'd a' their Hurdies wallop.Ayr. 1803 Sir A. Boswell Poet. Works (1871) 14:
In ilka countra dance and reel Wi' her he wad be babbin'.

(2) To shut (one's eyes).Per. 1990 Betsy Whyte Red Rowans and Wild Honey (1991) 52:
'Are you going to rise, Rab Ha'? That's wha you're like-the Glesga Glutton, him that ate the hundred-weight o' tripe. Dinnae think that you are gaen tae lie there aa day after making sure that nobody else got babbin' an eye!'Arg. 1909 Colville L.Sc. 114:
For I scrabed at mysel' thestreen And could not bab an e'e.Ayr. 1806 J. Train Poet. Reveries 100:
Except poor Odin, dowy loon, He cou'd na' bab an e'e.