Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BABANQUA, BABBANQUA, BABBINQUA, n. A quaking bog, a quagmire. [′bɑbɪn′kwɑ: + ′bɑbɪ̢n- + ′bɑbən-]Sc. 1896 A. Cheviot Proverbs 121:
Droedan leuch, and stalk'd awa', And vanished in a babbanqua.Abd. 1931 R. L. Cassie in Abd. Press and Jnl. (19 Feb.):
Fae babbinqua, fae laich an' law They're brattlin for the bruilzie.Bwk. 1837 G. Henderson in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club (1885) I. 150:
I recollect of being shewn . . . a quagmire or babanqua.