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: 1935
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BOOHOO, Buhu, int., n. and v. St.Eng. boohoo, n. and v., (make) sound of noisy weeping, is used in Sc. but the following uses are peculiarly Sc. [bu′hu:]
1. int. "Used to express contempt, accompanied with a projection of the lips; pronounced buhu" (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2).
2. n. Used to express something negligible, e.g. "I wouldna gi' a boohoo for you" (Ib.).
3. v. "To show contempt in the mode described above" (Ib.).Bnff.2 1935:
Fin he eam' oot at the skweel door the bairns a' boohoo't 'im.
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"Boohoo interj., n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/boohoo>
