Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1824-1928
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BLAB, BLEB, Blaeb, v.2, n.3 The forms blabber and blebber are also used in Banff (see Gregor D. Bnff. (1866)) with all the meanings given below. [blɑb, blɛb]
1. v.
(1) “To make a gurgling noise with the lips in a liquid; to take liquid or half-liquid food in an ungraceful manner, making a gurgling sound in touching it with the lips” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 12). vbl.n. blabban, the act of taking such food in such a manner.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 12:
That bairn hauds a naistie blabban an' suppan o'ts milk an' bread.
(2) “To drink much and frequently” (Ib.).Bch. 1928 (per Abd.15):
Saw ye ever sic a craitur for blebbin an' drinkin?Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin Robin 131:
Blebbin amang tea.
Hence (1) blebber, “a tippler” (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.2); (2) blaebin', ppl.adj., tippling.(2) Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas, etc. 102:
And yet I've seen him, when a bill was due, Rin aff amang his blaebin' drunken crew And raise the cash.
2. n.
(1) “A gurgling noise with the lips in a liquid” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 11).
(2) A quantity of drink, gen. with the idea of excess.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 11:
He geed t' the roup t' get a blab o' drink. Bleb is another form.Abd. 1851 W. Anderson Rhymes, etc. 80–81:
For a' your flash stage-coach declaimers I haud as only base defamers, Wha wad but back you for a blink, Then sell you for a blab o' drink.
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"Blab v.2, n.3". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 Mar 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/blab_v2_n3>
