Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GLUFFUS, n. Also gluffis, -as, -ice, -ace; †glafos, †gloffus (Jak.). A rough, uncouth person of noisy, foolish or light-headed behaviour, often referring to one of ugly or unprepossessing appearance (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., gluffis; Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 73; Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 151, 1929 Marw., gluffis; Sh., Ork., Cai. 1954); “one so ugly to cause fright” (Cai. 1900 E.D.D.). Also attrib. [′glʌfəs]Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 86:
The gluffus that cinno write i' Latin should write i' breed Scotch.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 318:
Ye buist blame that Shetlan' gluffas — Tamson — for pitten me doon withoot me leave.Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 124:
Dat gocked dem, an' da boys cam oot — da gluffices dat dey waar.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Gluffus n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gluffus>