blaw: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/ObscureDialectal (verb); Informal/Jargon (noun)
Quick answer
What does “blaw” mean?
(Verb, chiefly Scottish) To blow (wind). (Noun, law, informal) Blaw, as a clipping of 'blawg' or legal blog.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(Verb, chiefly Scottish) To blow (wind). (Noun, law, informal) Blaw, as a clipping of 'blawg' or legal blog.
The verb primarily survives in Scots dialect and certain Northern English dialects to mean 'to blow'. As a noun in modern legal/internet slang, it's an abbreviation for a law blog (blawg) or the content thereof.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The verb 'blaw' is almost exclusively a Scots/Scottish English dialect form, not used in standard American English. The noun 'blaw' (for law blog) is professional jargon with minimal regional variation.
Connotations
Verb: Rustic, regional, historical. Noun: Techie, insider, modern legal profession.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects, but the verb form would be recognised more readily in Scotland/Northern England than in the US.
Grammar
How to Use “blaw” in a Sentence
[Wind/It] blaws (intransitive)to blaw [something] (transitive, archaic/dialect)to read/write a blawVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blaw” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- It's fair blawing outside today.
- An auld wind blaws frae the east.
American English
- (Not used in standard AmE; 'blow' is used instead.)
adverb
British English
- (Not typically used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not typically used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not typically used as an adjective)
American English
- (Not typically used as an adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used, except perhaps in historical linguistics or Scottish literature studies for the verb.
Everyday
Virtually unused in standard English. May be heard in specific Scottish regions.
Technical
Niche use in legal tech/internet circles as shorthand for 'law blog'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blaw”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blaw”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blaw”
- Using 'blaw' in standard English expecting it to be understood.
- Pronouncing it /blɑː/ instead of /blɔː/.
- Assuming the noun and verb are semantically related.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is either a Scots dialect word for 'blow' or a very informal, niche abbreviation for a law blog ('blawg').
Only if you are quoting Scottish dialect literature or explicitly discussing the term in a meta-context about legal blogging or dialectology. Otherwise, use 'blow' or 'law blog'.
It is pronounced identically to the word 'blaw' as in 'law' – /blɔː/. Rhymes with 'saw'.
A 'blaw' is a specific type of blog that focuses exclusively on law, legal commentary, case summaries, and legal profession news.
(Verb, chiefly Scottish) To blow (wind). (Noun, law, informal) Blaw, as a clipping of 'blawg' or legal blog.
Blaw is usually dialectal (verb); informal/jargon (noun) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'The wind may blaw' (proverbial)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BL-AW' sounds like 'BL-aw' from 'law' – a 'blaw' is a blog about the law. For the verb, remember the Scots poet Burns: 'The wind may blaw'.
Conceptual Metaphor
WIND IS A FORCE (verb). LEGAL DISCOURSE IS AN ONLINE DIARY (noun).
Practice
Quiz
In modern professional jargon, what does 'blaw' most likely refer to?