Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BAB, n.³ 1. A bob, a limp. Cf. Bab, v. and P.L.D. § 54.w.Lth. 1889 F. Barnard Chirps 151:
Ye hae hobbled wi' an unco bab.

2. A dance, a hop. Cf. Bab, v., 2. (1), Bob, n.² The phr. in quot. is an allusive variation of Bab-at-the-bowster.Ayr. a.1878 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage (1892) 175:
Then hey for a bab at the babby, The tousting, the boosing, an' a'

3. = Eng. bob, a method of changing the notes in bell-ringing. Hence to change bab, used fig. like Eng. “to ring the changes”, to start something new.Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 373:
It's no when suns but glint and glimmer The gowk sits still—it changes bab.