1 a shoe, any shoe; sometimes an old and worn-out shoe or slipper: ... she and Jeannie baith bought themselves new stays and bonnie pinnies, alang with silk stocking and new high-heeled backles; 19-.
2 derogatory a useless person: …but whit an ill-natured, cantankerous bachle he wis. 19-. etymology: Scots bauchlean old, worn out shoe’; sense 1 attested by SR, BS in TDITA and JS; sense 2 attested by DW