Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866-1914
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BONNHOGA, Bônhoga, Buynhoga, n.
1. (See quot.)Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928);
Bonnhoga, childhood's home, ane's ain b[onnhoga] = "calf-ground," now more comm[only] used; also in a wider sense: place of resort; former haunt, ane's auld b[onnhoga].Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl. s.v. buynhoga Sh. 1914 Angus Gl. s.v. bônhoga
2. fig.
(1) "He is gane back till his auld b[onnhoga], used of the wind: it has begun to blow from the same quarter from which it blew before" (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
(2) (See quot.)Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
"Hit was b[onnhoga] atween dem," understood between them, without mentioning the name of the person or thing spoken about.
(3) (See quot.)Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
In connections where the orig. sense of the word has become obscure, thus, ironically: a good trip; a good piece of work, etc.; dey're made a b[onnhoga] de day, they got nothing out of their trip or errand to-day.
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"Bonnhoga n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bonnhoga>
