Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 2005 (SND, online supplement).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1983-2004
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BAR-L, n. Also Bar-Ell, Bar
Nickname for Barlinnie Prison in the East End of Glasgow.wm.Sc. 1983 William McIlvanney The Papers of Tony Veitch 123:
'The Bar-L.' Macey shuddered. 'Gads.' He had only been in Glasgow's prison once. He had no plans for going back.Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 9:
Bar-L Nickname for Barlinnie Prison, and also for the Barlanark area of the city.Gsw. 1987 Peter Mason C'mon Geeze Yer Patter! 39:
He's got a months hoaliday at the BAR-L. He's being incarcerated in Barlinnie Prison for 30 days.Edb. 1993 Irvine Welsh Trainspotting (1994) 20:
He's obviously been residing in one ay the Windsor group hotels, Saughton, Bar L, Perth, Peterhead, etc.Sc. 2003 Herald 3 Jun 14:
"We have had to resort to expensive postgraduate courses, when some time in Bar-L would have got us on a national paper."Sc. 2003 Scotsman 18 Jun 6:
Before the case opened yesterday with Napier giving a graphic description of a day in the life of a "Bar-L" inmate, ...Sc. 2004 Evening Times 16 Aug 10:
The day he was sent down to the Bar-L, his dad uttered the profound words: "Hello, son."
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"Bar-l n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snd00090318>
