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: 1808, 1885-1914
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BOURIE, Bowry, n. [′bu:ri, ′bʌuəri]
1. A rabbit's burrow; an animal's lair; sometimes extended to the resting-place of a person (see quot. 3).Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Bourie, a hole made in the earth by rabbits, or other animals that hide themselves there.Sc. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae the French 93:
A mappy frae his bourie boundit oot, Syne skipt ahint a buss.Hdg. 1885 “S. Mucklebackit” Rural Rhymes, etc. 11:
A rumblin' like a yirthquake sheuk My simmer morning bourie!
2. A house made of sand. Cf. Boorach, n., 4 (2).Slg.3 1914:
Let us hae a bowry .
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"Bourie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bourie>
