A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Tirly mirly, Tirlemirle, Tirriemirrie, n. [Tirl v. Cf. Tirlie n.] a. A term of endearment or nickname. b. ? An ornament or gewgaw. —a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 41/46.
Quod he, My kid, my capircalȝeane … My bony bab … My tendir girdill, my wally gowdy, My tirly mirly [M. tyrlie myrlie], My towdy mowdy 1705 Foulis Acc. Bk. 391.
Spent with Sir Walter Seton, mishmash, tirriemirrie, lang Hamilton, etc., 11 s. 4 d. —b. 1633 Johnston Diary I 170.
Hir tirlemirles on hir head cast me somquhat doune, bot hir looks mended that doubt
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"Tirly Mirly n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/tirly_mirly>
