Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1753, 1827-1851
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†BARLAFUMMIL(L), int. Also barley-fummel, barlafumble. A cry for truce by one fallen in fighting or wrestling.Sc. 1846 Anon. The Muckomachy (based on W. Drummond Polemo-Middinia) 20:
He gowl'd and grat — and, as he sobbit, Loud bawl'd the bummil, "A Barley-fummel!"Sc. 1851 J. M. Wilson Tales of the Borders (1858) IX. 151:
She was one of the cleverest dames that ever made a good-natured husband cry "barlafummil" in a matrimonial skirmish.Per. 1753 A. Nicol Rural Muse 105:
She [Fortune] and her favourites cry barlafumble, While in the dirt they tops o'er turvy tumble.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 30:
On, on, and cry na Barlafummill Till down amang the dirt she tummle.
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"Barlafummil interj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/barlafummill>
