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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

BULL, n.2 “The chief house on an estate, applied to the principal farm-house” (Sh., Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Ork. 1825 Jam.2).

[O.Sc. bull, bul, a homestead (in Orkney) (D.O.S.T.); O.N. bōl, farm (Zoëga). See Bow, n.2, 4, and Boo, n.6 According to Marw., s.v. bow, 2, this word is always pronounced as boo, the ll having been added in documents through the mistaken idea that these letters had been dropped as happens so reg. in Sc. words, e.g. fu' for full.]

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