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: 1912-1914
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BULLOX, v. and n. Gen.Sc. [′bʌlɔks, ′bɔlɔks (Lnl.1)]
1. v. To spoil, make a mess of.Slg. 1914 T.S.D.C. I.:
Let me try't, ye've bulloxt it.w.Dmf. 1914 T.S.D.C. I.Ayr.2 1914:
I'll bullox ye up the sheugh.
2. n. A mess. The vulgar use in army slang is probably due to the resemblance in sound to Ballocks, q.v.Lnk.7 1912:
He's made a bullox of it.
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"Bullox v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bullox>
