Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

BUGDALIN, Bugdalen, Bugdelen, Bugdelling, Bugdealling, Buckdealling, Buckdaning, n. Also bugglin. [′bʌgdələn]

†1. The ceiling of a ship, i.e. the inside planking of a ship's bottom. Also attrib.Ork. 1716 Traill Accs. of Ork. Trading MS.:
To the laying of the bugdealling being 3 days work for 3 men £3. 12.Ork. 1719 Ib.:
And for bugdelling dealls etc. to the Hellen of B. Stoness in Sanday.

2. Anything used to line the hold of a ship before putting in the cargo; hence packing of any kind (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl.); “loose material to fill in between stones in building a wall; bedding placed under animals in an open boat; "straw on the bottom of a boat to help with the transport of animals" (Cai. 1972 D. Omand Cai. Book 244; Sh., Cai. 1975); odds and ends in a bag; any loose material lying in a heap, e.g. in the corner of a lumber room or in one's pocket” (Sh. 1914 A. Brown in T.S.D.C. I., bugdalen).Ork. 1715 Traill Accs. of Ork. Trading MS.:
To . . . expenses loading said ship at Orkney bugdalen yrto and makeing the debenture. [Also spelt buckdaning (1728).]Inv. 1718 Letter-Bk. Bailie J. Steuart (ed. W. Mackay 1915) 80:
And if can Dispose of the balks, weights, and bugdelen at the rait they coast, doe it, as youl see by Mr Simsons accot. [Also spelt buckdealling (1729), p. 332.]

3. As a fig. extension of above: needless or impertinent talk.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
Boy, du's spekkin bugdalin.