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.
Quotation dates: 1789, 1894-1934
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BELLY, BILLY, BULLY, v.2 and n.
1. v. To bellow, cry, weep loudly. [′bɛlɪ̢, ′bɪlɪ̢, ′bʌlɪ̢]
(1) Belly.Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 65:
Belly. To weep with a loud noise.Mry.2 1933:
Belly. To bellow, cry, esp. of children.
(2) Billy.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 49:
Ilk cuddoch [young cow] billying o'er the green Against auld crummy ran.Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders xlvi.:
Frae far an' near they come to hear Rob Gomerel tell aboot the Broonie that billied at him.
(3) Bully.Bnff.9 c.1927:
When a child is crying loudly, they say “Fat are ye bullyin' at?”Abd.13 1914Ags.1 1934
ppl.adj. bullyan.Bch. 1928 (per Abd.15):
He's a bullyan breet, aye yowlin at the loon.
2. n. A bellow.Bnff.9 c.1927:
The coo gid a bully.
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"Belly v.2, n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/belly_v2_n>
