Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BLAD, n.3
1. “A person who is of a soft constitution; whose strength is not in proportion to his size or looks. It is often applied to a young person, who has become suddenly tall, but is of a relaxed habit” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl.:
“A blad of a man” — a delicate, weakly person.
Hence bladi, adj., feeble (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl.).
2. “A useless thing” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.).
[Prob. from O.E. blæd, a leaf, a thing of no importance, O.N. blað, a leaf.]
