Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1822, 1879
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BABBIN, n. A Sc. form of St.Eng. bobbin, a reel of thread, etc. See P.L.D. §54. [′bɑbɪn]Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 40–41:
On marrying they generally gave up the "box and babbins" for a "baby and a blanket."Uls.(D) 1879 W. G. Lyttle Readings by Robin 100:
Then he tuk a thing jest like a babbin, an' he pit yin en' o' it tae my breast.
Comb. babbincue, waste cotton wound up in a ball like string (Ayr. 1975). For the second element see C'ue, n.1.
[Cf. Fr. bobine, a quill for a spinning wheele; also, a skaine (Cotgrave 1611). Origin unknown (Hatz. and Darm.).]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Babbin n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/babbin>
