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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.

BLADRY, BLATHRIE, BLAIDRY, BLETHRIE, BLAUDRY, n. and adj. [′blɑdri, ′bledri, ′blɑðri Sc.; ′blɛðri Per., Ayr.]

1. n.

(1) Trumpery, foolishness, ostentation, harm.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 296:
“Shame fall the geer and the blad'ry o't,” is the Turn of an old Scottish Song, spoken when a young handsome Girl marries an old Man, upon the account of his Wealth.Sc. 1737 Ramsay Poems (1800) I. p. xliv.:
Is there ought better than the stage To mend the follies of the age, If manag'd as it ought to be, Frae ilka vice and blaidry free.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie xcvii.:
I'll no fash mysel' ony mair wi' this world's pelf and the blathrie o't.

(2) “The term is often used to denote the phlegm that is forced up in coughing, especially when in a great quantity” (Sc. 1825 Jam.²).Per. Ib. s.v. blether:
The Crieff beadle said to an old minister after preaching; “Ye'll be better now, Sir, ye hae gotten a hantle blethrie aff your stamock the day.” [Evidently a play upon the words Bladry and Bletherie, q.v.]

(3) Rough usage, abuse.Bch. 1914 T.S.D.C. I. 22:
Fairm servens hes to thole a heap o' bladry.

(4) Waste.Bnff.² 1934; Abd.¹³ 1914:
In a hoose faur the midder's nae thrifty they say “There's an afa blaudry gis on in 'at hoose.”

2. adj. Rough or dirty.Bch. 1914 (per Ayr.²):
A'm aye at some bladry wark or idder.