Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1894-1927, 1996
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BLAFF, n. and v.
1. n.
(1) Blast, bang.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 52:
He wis jist drivin intae Steenhive fin it happened. Aa o a sudden there wis a muckle blaff frae the airt o Aiberdeen. Syne, there wis a blinnin fire-flaucht.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables R. Cummell 154:
A bitter wind was blawing doon the gate wi' unco blaffs and thuds.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
The gun gaed off wi' a blaff.
fig. Crash.Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders ii.:
Many the time, also, that I have fallen with an unco blaff because I have neglected to heed his warnings.
(2) Stroke, touch (of the sun).m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood 186:
Ye've got a blaff o' the sun.
2. v. "To 'bang'" (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders vii.:
Pistols . . .'ll be gaun blaffin' aff when there's mair need to be as quiet as an ashleaf.
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"Blaff n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/blaff>
