Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1822-1824, 1903-1929
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GULLION, n.1 †1. A dirty quagmire, a marsh, swamp (Lth. 1808 Jam.).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 94:
He'd slonk adown, or ere he ken'd, A miry, quacking quaw, Or glauroch, far aboon the knee, Through some blue rashy gullion.Hdg. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 28:
But I'll drive him Ense dregg him to the gullion he maun loup.
2. A pool of soft mud or of manure and decayed vegetable matter in a semi-fluid state or its contents (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., Uls.2 1929). Sometimes in pl. (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Dwn. 1931 in North. Whig (2 Dec.) 5).Uls. 1822 T. Reid Travels in Ireland 162:
Access to the house is sometimes facilitated by forming a causeway of large stones, set apart, to a landing place clear of gullion.Tyr. 1929 “M. Mulcaghey” Ballymulcaghey 18:
Down he went on the whole broad of his back in yon gullion at the byre dure.
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"Gullion n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gullion_n1>
