A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1500
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Rusty bully. [MF rostit bollit (Avignon, 1449), roti bouilly (ioyeulx) (Basses Danses de la Bibliothèque de Bourgogne, ?a1435), ME roty bully (joys) (Skelton).] The name of a dance, ‘originating in Brabant … which very possibly mocked the English for their love of "jolly roast beef"’ (see Review of English Studies New Series VI (1955) 279–284). — a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i 319.
Sum rusty bully with a bek
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"Rusty Bully n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rusty_bully>
