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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

THUD, v.¹, n.¹ Also tud (I.Sc.) and freq. form thudder. [θʌd; I.Sc. tʌd]

I. v. 1. Of the wind: intr. to come in noisy blasts or gusts, to bluster (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh. 1972), transf. to move like the wind, to sweep or swirl along (Id.); tr. to drive rain, snow, etc., in gusts before it. Ppl.adj. thudding, ¶thuddering, gusting.Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis:
He thudded away, i.e. went away very swiftly.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 187:
Now, Sir, when Boreas nae mair thuds Hail, Snaw and Sleet, frae blacken'd Clouds.Edb. 1796 H. MacNeill Waes o' War 8:
Loud and sair the cauld winds thud.Kcb. 1806 J. Train Poet. Reveries 34:
Frae a' the nightly Bogles free An' frae the thudding blast.Dmf. 1868 N. and Q. (4th Ser.) I. 163:
Not a ranting, tanting, tearing win', but a thuddering, duddering, drying ane.

2. intr. To make a dull sound on impact, to rumble, bump, thump. Gen.Sc., and adopted by St. Eng. in the mid. 19th c. Ppl.adj. thuddin, thumping, pounding.Ayr. 1786 Burns Vision i. xiv.:
Here, Doon pour'd down his far-fetch'd floods; There. well-fed Irwine stately thuds.Rnf. c.1792 A. Wilson Poems (1876) II. 66:
Cease, thou flighterin' thuddin' heart, Thou naething hast to fear.Sc. 1833 M. Scott T. Cringle's Log i.:
A puff of white smoak, then another, followed by thudding reports.

3. tr. To beat, strike, thump (Sc. 1825 Jam.), to drive with blows. Hence vbl.n. thuddin, a beating (Slg., Fif., wm., sm.Sc., Rxb. 1972), a severe scolding (Mry. 1925).Mry. 1852 A. Christie Mountain Strains 6:
The apparent couple gets a thuddin If they have ony fauts at a'.Mry. 1870 W. Tester Select Poems 228:
Sae I, in coorse, was thuddert oot Wi' Lucky Gruddy's dish washcloot.e.Lth. 1899 J. Lumsden Poems 259:
Blow all your trumps! thud all your drums.Ayr. 1925 Carrick Anthol. (Finlayson) 328:
The chiel wha tells ye no to tell, An' threats ye wi' a thuddin'.

II. n. 1. The dull sound of a heavy impact, a bump, thump. Gen.Sc. In this sense also in n.Eng. dial. and now adopted in St. Eng. Cf. v., 2.; the rumble of thunder, the boom of a waterfall, etc.Sc. 1732 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) III. 229:
But see, my Lass, yon sooty Cloud Is burning with a stormy Thud.Edb. 1796 H. MacNeill Waes o' War 21:
Loud the din o' streams fast fa'ing, Strak the ear wi' thundering thud.m.Sc. 1827 A. Rodger Peter Cornclips 178:
Down he tumbles by-an'-by, Wi' sic a thud, 'mang stanes an' mud.

2. A blast of wind, sudden squall, a gust, freq. including the notion of its sound (Sc. 1825 Jam.; I.Sc. 1972). Adj. thuddie, gusty, blustery (Ork. 1972).Sc. 1724 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) III. 82:
The Air grew ruch with bousteous Thuds.Per. 1816 J. Duff Poems 55:
We maun double a' our duds To defend the winter thuds.Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 1:
He hears the win' return wi' thuds.Ayr. 1858 M. Porteous Souter Johnny 30:
Wud as tempest thud.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (20 Nov.):
Yea, snaw! Dü ye no hear da wind? Yon's snawy tuds apo' da lum.

3. A buffet, thump, blow with the fist (Ork., Cai. 1972); fig., a severe affliction, a blow of misfortune. Also in Eng. dial.Sc. 1722 W. Hamilton Wallace x. iv.:
News of Wallace came with such a Thud As quickly put a Fear unto their Fud.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 24:
Screeding of kurches crying dool and care, Wi' thud for thud upon their bare breast-bane.Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 151:
He cocks his hand, and gi's his wife a thud.Rnf. 1876 D. Gilmour Paisley Weavers 91:
Poor lass, it's a sair thud to thee.Abd. 1887 Bards Bon-Accord (Walker) 629:
Whan we gaed hame at e'en, we were weel paid wi' thuds.Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters v.:
I hit him a thud in the ear.

4. A large amount of anything.Bwk. 1801 “Bwk. Sandie” Poems 83:
We canna for our verra bloods, Expect that fardels frae the clouds, Or cakes, or scones, will come in thuds.