Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

BELLY, BILLY, BULLY, v.² and n.

1. v. To bellow, cry, weep loudly. [′bɛlɪ̢, ′bɪlɪ̢, ′bʌlɪ̢]

(1) Belly.Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 65:
Belly. To weep with a loud noise.Mry.² 1933:
Belly. To bellow, cry, esp. of children.

(2) Billy.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 49:
Ilk cuddoch [young cow] billying o'er the green Against auld crummy ran.Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders xlvi.:
Frae far an' near they come to hear Rob Gomerel tell aboot the Broonie that billied at him.

(3) Bully.Bnff.⁹ c.1927; Abd.¹³ 1914; Ags.¹ 1934:
When a child is crying loudly, they say “Fat are ye bullyin' at?”

ppl.adj. bullyan.Bch. 1928 (per Abd.¹⁵):
He's a bullyan breet, aye yowlin at the loon.

2. n. A bellow.Bnff.⁹ c.1927:
The coo gid a bully.