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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BLUITER, Bluitter, n.¹, v.¹ Also blitter, blooter. [′blytər Kcb., Rxb.; ′bl(j)utər Bnff.]

1. n.

(1) “A gust of wind” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. s.v. bluitter); a puff, a dense swirl (of smoke). Cf. Blewder.Lnk. 1917 Border Mag. (Feb.) 46:
Wullie Gledstane and his three acres and a coo'll end like the rest o' Willie's cantrips in a blitter o' reek.

(2) “A rumbling noise; as that sometimes made by the intestines” (Sc. 1808 Jam., bluiter; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., bluitter).Arg. 1955 Bulletin (29 Aug.):
What a joy to hear again the burns gluck and gurgle, and the swirl and roar of the river at the Roman Bridge. As they say in Inveraray, "Oh for a good blooter."

(3) “One who breaks wind behind” (ne., w.–s.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

2. v.

(1) “To make a rumbling noise” (Sc. 1808 Jam., bluiter; w.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., bluitter).Peb. 1793 Carlop Green (ed. R. D. C. Brown 1832) 20:
The whaup, frae the south, that bluiters In the bogs, like a soo.

(2) “To do work in a bungling manner” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 13); “to bungle” (Ayr.⁴ 1928).

Deriv.: blootered, drunk.Sc. 1991 Daily Record 23 May :
For Sub-lieutenant Callum Cox was so blootered he staggered into a surgeon's bedroom thinking it was a toilet.Sc. 1998 Herald 3 Apr 19:
Even taking into account London's inflated prices, it remains undeniable that £40 should still be sufficient these days to allow a couple of geezers to get splendidly blootered.Ork. 1994 Orcadian 1 Dec 8:
That dire proclamation took effect in many ways, ways reflected in Duncan McLean's city stories; young characters on their beam ends, unemployed, practically homeless, getting blootered, throwing-up.m.Sc. 1986 Colin Mackay The Song of the Forest 107:
"I thought you might be losing your breath," said Faidh hoarsely. "I wouldna want to take advantage of a blootered old bum like you."w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 16:
Guid neebor Will, - his case at last
has Brickwork boss's blootert
an proves that reek,
thir fug an smeek,
can pizen aa wir rhubert.Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 11:
blooter ... Blootered is a slang word for drunk.Gsw. 1996 Glaswegian 9 May :
What's more, you don't have to get blootered, stagger home on a late night bus and wake up with a half eaten kebab on your pillow to have a good night out.Gsw. 1998 Alan Spence Way to Go (1999) 51:
Back home, the house was quiet, no noise from the old man, probably out the game himself, blootered.sm.Sc. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
blittered, plittered, blottered, blootered drunk.

ppl.adj. bluiterin', clumsy (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 13).Sc. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae the French 37:
The clumsy cuddy heist his hoof, A' worn an' glaur't, the bluit'rin' coof, An' clapp't wi' it his Maister's chin.

(3) “To bluiter up with water, to dilute too much” (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Kcb.⁹ 1935).