Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1767-1773, 1900-1910
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BULLIN, BULLEN, BULLON, BULLAN, n. and v. [′bʌlɪn, ′bʌlən]
1. n. “A heap” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., bullen); “a pile of peats or tangles built up for drying” (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Cai.7 1937). See also bulin, idem, s.v. Bol, n.2, v.2Sh. 1900 Sh. News (23 June):
Betty an' I pat da paets in bullins mair is [than] a ook frae syne.Ork. 1910 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. III. i. 32:
A week or twa efter whin ane o' 'is neebors waar cairtan hame dere pates, dey fand Tammy's knife stickan i ane o' da bullons.
2. v. Of peats: to stack (Cai.7 1937, bullan-ower).Ork. 1767-73 P. Fea MS. Diary (17 Sept., 4 Aug.):
Sent Jo Hay and 5 others to kase and bullan what peats I had in the Calf. . . . My peats all down save a few not bullan'd.
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"Bullin n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bullin>
