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Buroo
01
(Scottish) unemployment office or the benefits received from it
Dated
Slang
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Simple
Countable
Plural form
buroos
What does "buroo" mean in Scottish slang?
The structure is a phonetic spelling of "bureau," specifically the "Employment Bureau" or labor exchange, with the pronunciation reflecting Scottish speech. It is used in Scotland to refer to the unemployment office or the unemployment benefits received from it. People typically say "He's on the buroo" or "I need to sign on at the buroo." The term originated in early 20th century Scottish working class speech, shortening "Employment Bureau," and remains common, though it has become somewhat dated as the official names have changed.
Examples
He had to go down to the buroo to claim his benefits.
