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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 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BUNG, v.¹, n.¹, adv. A variant of Bang, v.¹, adv., and Bang, n.¹, q.v. [bʌŋ]

I. v., tr. and intr.

1. tr. (1) “To throw with violence” (Abd. 1825 Jam.²). Gen.Sc. Now also Eng. slang.Sc. 1896 A. Cheviot Proverbs 236:
Like a light bung in a gutter.Bnff. 1923 At the Games in Bnffsh. Jnl. (24 July) 2:
Weel, man, there's nae muckle fun watchin' a puckle chiels, tirred half-nyaukit, bungin' the hemmer.Abd. 1845 Stat. Acc.² XII. 624 note: 
Sir William Wallace ups wi' a stane like a houseside and bungs 't frae the tap o' Benachie.Ags.(D) 1922 J. B. Salmond Bawbee Bowden vii.:
An' tak' yer bundles o' rags an' tow wi' ye, an' no' come bungin' them into my entry.Edb. 1926 A. Muir Blue Bonnet vi.:
Weren't worth bunging a chuckie at.

(2) To offend.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 20:
Y'ive bungt 'im at ye.Bnff.³ 1920:
Ye're nae bunged wi's are ye?

2. intr. (1) To take offence, become sulky.Abd.² 1932:
If ye dinna lat wi her [gie in till 'er] she'll bung an' rin awa hame.

Hence bungy, adj., “huffish, pettish, testy” (Abd. 1825 Jam.²). Known to Bnff.² 1937.

(2) “To walk quickly with a haughty air” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 20).

II. n.

1. “The act of throwing a stone [forcibly]” (Sc. 1825 Jam.²; Bnff.², Abd.², Fif.¹⁰ 1937).

2. A blow, bang or slap.Sh. 1926–1928 J.G. Lowrie buys a Ford in Sh. Times:
He gies me a bung apo da back.Fif.¹⁰, Kcb.¹ 1937:
He gae me a bung on the lug.

3. A violent rush (Bnff.², Abd.² 1937).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 19:
She cam into the hoose wee a bung.

III. adv. With sudden impetus; with sudden impact (Bnff.², Abd.², Ags.¹, Fif.¹, Lnl.¹ 1937). Often in phr. full bung, full tilt (Arg.¹ 1937).Ags.(D) 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) i.:
Syne awa' he gaed full bung a' o' a sudden.Ags. 1925 Forfar Dispatch (16 July) 3/3:
He lost his balance an' landit bung in amon' the gude terts.

IV. Phrases: (1) in (into) a (the) bung(s), in a temper, in the sulks; cf. in a bang, s.v. Bang, n.¹ (2); (2) tak the (a) bung, take the huff (Bnff.², Abd.⁹ 1937); (3) upo' the bung, idem (Id.).(1) Bnff.¹³ 1914; Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹ 1937:
To get into the bungs (sulks).Abd.(D) 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxv.:
But aw doot Dawvid's gotten's nain leg drawn a wee bittie. . . . He's hame nae time syne in a terrible bung.(2) Mry. 1825 Jam.²:
To tak a bung, a low phrase, synon. with to tak the pet.Abd. 1928 N. Shepherd Quarry Wood xv.:
“He's ta'en the bung,” Bella says.(3) Abd.(D) 1916 G. Abel Wylins fae my Wallet 102:
He slammed the door An' oot upo' the bung.