Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1824-1828, 1899
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BORREL, BORRELL, adj. Rough, rude.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet Letter xi.:
"I intend to delate mysell to the Presbytery," said Steenie, "and tell them all I have seen last night, whilk are things fitter for them to judge of than a borrel man like me."Sc. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth xxix.:
But what would the burning of a borrell ignorant burgess like me serve?Sc. 1899 Mont.-Fleming:
"A borrell man," an uncultivated rustic.
Comb.: borrell-loons, "wild or mischievous country lads" (Sir W. Scott quoted by Jam.6 1887).
[O.Sc. burel(l), rough, rude; O.Fr. borel, burel, from bure (Lat. burra), a rough kind of cloth. Cf. Mod.Fr. bureau, orig. meaning a desk-cover (see Hatz. and Darm.). Cf. Burrel, adj.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Borrel adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/borrel>
