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.
Quotation dates: 1879-1908
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BULBACK, n. Also bolbak (Jak.), ¶bullack. The upper hand or the advantage, authority, charge or command (Sh. 1962). [′bʊlbək]Sh. 1879 Shetland Times (10 May):
Gin ye try ta tak ower muckle bullack [sic] apo wis. Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Du will no tak (get) bolbak ower me.
[Cf. Faer. bilbugt, upper hand, Icel. bilbugur, O.N. bilbugr, yielding, giving way.]
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"Bulback n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 Aug 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snd00088192>
