CHEEKY Scots have raised smiles – and eyebrows – around the world with their colourful term for the storm that lashed the country today.
Twitter users across the globe have been referring to “Hurricane Bawbag” as they discuss the 100mph winds blasting through the central belt.
The term featured at the top of the World-wide trends list for several hours.
And even one Scottish council adopted it for its official Tweets.
User Pazpaz was among thousands of Twitter users employing the hashtag – a means of connecting posts – #HurricaneBawbag.
Papaz wrote: “American hurricane namers are lazy. They pick easy ones like “George” and “Kate”. Only inScotlandcould they come up with #HurricaneBawbag.
“#ItMakesMeHappyWhen the Scots get worldwide recognition for something other than bagpipes and haggis. Let’s hear it for #HurricaneBawbag”
Pols80 tweeted: “Just passed a guy wrestling with a golf umbrella. Clearly with all the transport disruption he’s planning on air travel #hurricanebawbag”.
While bernieleslie was unimpressed by the weather, asking: “Can we not send #hurricanebawbag homeward tae think again?”
Tshirt
MediaCom_Murray remained sceptical of the wind power, tweeting: “It cannae be that bad. There’s still wee men in bunnets sparkin up outside pubs the length o Leith Walk. #hurricanebawbag”
Meanwhile, Stirling council wrote on their feed: “All Libraries are closing up at 1 o’clock – Stirling Council Website for details http://my.stirling.gov.uk/disruptions #scotstorm #HurricaneBawbag”
And other twitter users joked that TV weathermen should use the term in their broadcasts.
User thomasmckellar Tweeted: “Would LOVE to see @SeanBattySTV refer to the winds as #hurricanebawbag when he does the weather later!”
For those unfamiliar with the term, it is an indelicate reference to part of the male anatomy, as well as a derogative term meaning idiot.
The storm’s moniker has also been used by Scots with an entrepreneurial streak.
One firm took to the web with “Hurricane Bawbag” T-shirts featuring the tagline “a load of old wind”.
The cotton shirts were being sold for £14 on the Get aroundGlasgowwebsite within hours of the winds striking.
The storm even spawned its own Wikipedia entry, where it was described as “Hurricane Bawbag was a stormy day inScotlandon the 8th December 2011. Winds reached over 100mph and many schools and nurseries were closed. Within hours of the severe weather warning ‘Hurricane Bawbag’ merchandise became available online.
“It also sparked Twitter Trending topic which became the most popular inBritain. Local Authorities and National Weather Stations also used the term.”
