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 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BLOWDER, Blowdir, Bllowthnir, n. and v. [′blʌudər; ne.Sc. + ′bljʌuðɪr]

I. n.

1. “A sudden gust of wind; exposure to a storm” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 218, s.v. bllowthir).Abd.⁶ 1914:
I got a gey blowder coming ower the hill.Bch. 1928 (per Abd.¹⁵):
Hisna there been some gey blowdirs o' ween?

Hence blowderin', adj., gusty.Abd.(D) 1931 R. L. Cassie in Bnffsh. Jnl. (21 April) 5/3:
The ruck-tow hauds it [corn] sauf an' soon' Fin blowderin' bluffert jeels, O.

2. “A plunge of a very large body; a big stupid person” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 13, s.v. bllowthir).

II. v. To plunge with great force.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 13; Bnff.² 1935:
The hail face o' the craig geed bllowthirin' down in'o the sea.

Hence, (1) bllowthiran', vbl.n., the act of plunging; (2) bllowthirin', adj., stupid.(1) Ib.:
Thir's been a gey bllowthiran' fin the rocks wir haivt up.(2) Ib.:
He's a bllowthirin' blunk o' a cheel, that.