A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Trollie lolly, Trolee lolee, Trolylow, Trulie loly, -lola, Trolly trolly, phr. [ME and e.m.E. trolly-lolly, trolli-lolli, troly lolly (all Piers Plowman), troly lowe (1567).] A nonsense refrain. — 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 245 (see Trittil(l-trattil(l n. a).
Trolylow 1549 Compl. 64/32.
Sum of the … sangis … trolee lolee lemmen dou a1568 Scott iv 61.
Sum luvis lang trollie lolly 1670–80 Dauney Anc. Sc. Melodies 58.
So sweetly sings the nightingale, For love trulie, loly, lola Urquhart Rabelais iii xxxvi 298.
Wishy, washy; Trolly, trolly
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"Trollie Lolly phr.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/trollie_lolly>
