Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1812-1844, 1923
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BELL, n.1 and v.1
1. n.
(1) “A bubble in water or any liquid” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2).central, w.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 53:
Bell. A soap-bubble.Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales, etc. (1837) II. 152:
I soon saw by the bells coming up, that there was a fish in the auld hauld.
Comb.: saip-bells, “bubbles formed by blowing out soapy water” (Sc. 1825 Jam2).
(2) A drop of sweat.Abd. [1844] W. Thom Rhymes and Recollections (1845) 72:
The feast o' yestreen how it oozes through, In bell an' blab on his burly brow.
2. v. To bubble up.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man II. ii.:
When the scum turns blue And the blood bells through.
ppl.adj. bellin'.Sc. 1844 G. Outram Lyrics Legal, etc., Invitation to a Dinner (1874) 14:
But anerlie wi' our ain reamin yill an' bellin usquebaugh.Edb. 1812 P. Forbes Poems 22:
Acquavitae, auld an' bellin', That will rouse ye'r drousie heart.
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"Bell n.1, v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bell_n1_v1>
