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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

BOUFF, Bowf(f), v.² and n.² [bʌuf]

1. v.

(1) To bark; applied as a rule to the hollow bark of the larger breeds of dogs, but extended to any dull, loud sound; the dull thud heard in a coal mine when a roof is cracking, a Nug (Fif., Lth. 1963). Gen.Sc. Phr. to play bowf, to thud, to strike with a dull thump (Sh., Abd., Fif. 1975). Mry.(D) 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sketches 29:
He . . . gave it a dig in the ribs which sent it “bowfing” and galloping round the sty.Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 43:
An the cadger's bikk wis ower weel acquant
To badder eyven to bowff.Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 115:
My Collie bouff't, an' rear't his curlin birse.Ags. 1834 A. Smart Rambling Rhymes 119:
He was a douce an' feckfu' brute As ever bowft or ran ther'out.

(2) “To cough loud. It is often conjoined with the v. to Host” (Abd. 1825 Jam.²). Gen.Sc.Abd.² 1935:
Sandy bouffs an bouffs wi' a nesty dry hoast, never gettin' at the boddom o't.

Hence bouffan, continuous coughing.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 15:
He keepit sic a hostan an' bouffan a' nicht it a cud get nae sleep for 'im.

2. n.

(1) A bark; also any loud, dull sound.Abd. 1879 G. Macdonald Sir Gibbie l.:
At that moment came a thunderous wave with a great bowff into the hollow at the end of the gully on whose edge they stood.Slg.³ 1935:
The collie gave a loud bouff.

fig. a scolding tone.Sc. 1897 H. Hendry Burns from Heaven, etc. 42:
But wha cares for a beadle's bowff Wha's day is dune?

(2) A dog. Also bowfer (in tinkers' cant buffert (Abd.¹⁶ 1935)); dim. bouffie.Mry. 1883 F. Sutherland Sunny Memories 120:
But ilka big bowfer the creatur' can spy.Abd.² 1935:
O Grannie, dinna be fleyit, the bouffie winna touch ye.

(3) A loud, hard cough.Sc. 1983 John McDonald in Joy Hendry Chapman 37 45:
He gangs eastlins
doun the derkened street -
the bowf o's hoast -
the shauchlin o's feet.Bnff.² 1935:
The bairn's far fae weel. I dinna like her bowf o' a hoast that never devauls.

3. Proverbial or colloq. uses of both n. and v.Abd.⁴ 1933:
“Never said boo tull's bowf,” did not retaliate.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 31:
Ye ken the sayin — “as the laird bowffs, the loun yaffs.”