Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

BLEG, BLIG, n. and v. Also blegg, blegdt, bligg. See Blagda. [blɛg, blɪg]

1. n.

(1) (See quots.)Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1908 Jak. (1928), bleg, blig; 1914 Angus Gl., bleg:
Blegdt. Wooden wedges for keeping the hoe securely fixed to the haft.Sh.⁸ 1934:
If the head of a hoe is loose and you push a piece of wood between the handle and the head to keep them firm, the piece of wood is called a blig. A wedge for a window is also called a blig.

(2) “Longish piece, cut from a fish, esp. from the belly, and used for bait” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sh. 1899 J. Spence Sh. Folk-Lore 243:
Da twartree piltiks i' da skjo [shed] ar noo faan upun [getting high], bit dey'll dö fir saide bliggs.

Hence bleggy, “a fish bait” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).

2. v. “To fix with a bleg” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To b[legg] a hoe, to drive a wedge into a hoe in order to fasten the iron to the handle.