Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1801-1818, 1914
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BORAL, BORREL, n. Also burrel (Sc. 1741 A. McDonald Galick Vocab. 49). "An instrument for boring, one end of which is placed on the breast. Hence called a breast bore" (Tev. 1825 Jam.2). Given in Watson Rxb. W.-B. 1923 as obs. [′borɑl, ′bɔrəl]Sc. 1801 J. Leyden (ed.) Compl. Scot., Gl. 314:
Borrel, a borer, or wimble; in common use; hence borrel-brace, a species of carpenter's wimble-shaft.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
Boral, a boring tool such as a gimlet or auger.
Combs.: (1) boral hole, a hole made by a wimble, used fig.; (2) boral-tree, "the handle of a wimble" (Tev. 1825 Jam.2).(1) Slk. 1818 Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck II. v.:
His breiste was like ane heck of hay; His gobe ane rounde and boral hole.
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"Boral n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Aug 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/boral>
