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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.

BLASH, Blashac, n. [blɑʃ, blɑʃək]

1. A splash of liquid or semi-liquid matter falling on a surface. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1825 Jam.²:
She cuist a great blash of water into the pot.Edb. 1915 J. Fergus The Sodger, etc. (1916) 13:
When he lav'd a blash o' water — a nievefu' — frae the bowl On the wee bit girnin' bairnies an' started them to yowl.Rnf. 1790 A. Wilson Poems (1876) 94:
It blatter't wi' a blash I' the burn that day.

2. A heavy or drenching shower of rain, sleet, etc. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1923 R. Macrailt Hoolachan 19:
It's an awfu' blash o' weet the nicht.Abd. 1924 A. M. Williams in Scots Mag. (April) 35–36:
Up bye i' the Cabrach, it dang on for sax ouks (weeks), blash in an' blash oot, an nayther uppled nor devaled.Ags. 1830 A. Balfour Weeds and Wildflowers 128; Fif.¹ 1934:
We've naething like that now; just blinks of sunshine, an' blashes o' weet.Ayr. 1924 M. B. Robertson in Swatches o' Hamespun 65:
An' sma reid bird, when the blash smurs by, Whaur do ye snuggle yer head?

3. “A weak mixture to drink or sup” (Bnff.² 1934). Gen.Sc.Abd. 1884–1903 Jeems Sim in North. Figaro 36:
An' div ye think I'm gyaun tae pey for a blash o' sowda water or ginger ale tae you?Ags. 1870 Kirriemuir Observer (3 June) 3/3:
Nae thin, feckless blash was Tibbie Horton's ale.Lnk. 1928 G. Blake Paper Money 73:
I hope it's decent broth ye're giving us to-night, Nell, and no that cockieleekie blash ye served me wi' the ither day.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
That tea's perfec' blash.

4. “A mass of semi-liquid or soft slimy matter, a disgusting mixture, a dirty mess” (Bnff.² 1934).Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1839) ii.:
[Old Bailie Bogie's] best black coat . . . was totally spoiled, on their way home in the dark from his lordship's, by a tremendous blash, that my unfortunate uncle happened, in the course of nature, to let free in the frenzy of a deadly upthrowing.

Also, with Gael. ending, blashac, “a soft mass or mess” (Mry.¹ 1925).

5. “A copious draught, gen. contemptuously” (Bnff.² 1934).Sc. 1828 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 98:
I agree wi' you in detestin a blash o' cauld speerits-and-water wi' broon sugar — aneuch to gar you grue, scunner and bock.Sc. 1928 L. Spence in Scots Mag. (May) 142; Abd.⁹, Ags.² 1934:
The denner wis the usual thae Indian Caledonian Societies gets up — cock-a-leekie, haggis and a' that, wi' a guid blash o' the Auld Kirk.Gsw. 1884 H. Johnston Martha Spreull (1930) 79:
I wis born on Hogmanay. Ye may be sure Peter and my faither had a guid blash o' toddy that nicht.

6. Extended use to signify (1) “a torrent of words” (Bnff.², Ags.² 1934); (2) “a blow with a wet cloth” (Bnff.² 1934).(1) Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick iii.; Lnk.³ 1934:
As for Broun, his maitter was juist a blash o' words, an' his deleevery no' muckle better nor play-actin.(2) Uls. 1924 A.E. in North. Whig and Belfast Post (12 Jan.):
Blash. A slap with a wet cloth.