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: 1836-1847, 1925-1927
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BOWK, Bouk, v. and n. [bʌuk]
1. v. (1) "To retch " (Mry.1 1925, bowk, bouk; Bnff.9 1927; Abd.9, Ags.1, Edb.1 1935); to vomit (Ork. 1975).Rxb.(D) 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 14:
Ei says ei's leike ti bowk. A dinna wunder at eet; ei ett till ei was leike ti burst.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan II. ix.:
It [the sea] has fairly bouked him out; sic stuff wadna bide on its stomach.
(2) "To emit or eject smoke" (centr.–w. Rxb. 1923 Watson W .-B.); ppl.adj. bowkin.Rxb.(D) 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes an Knowes 18:
A keek oot ov a slaistert woark-place wundih on ti bowkin lums.
2. n. "A vomiting, or the retching preceding the same" (Abd.9, Ags.1 1935).Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 195:
An' syne he gaed a fearfu' bowk, An' bang'd them a' for spuein' Clear drink that day.
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"Bowk v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bowk>
