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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.

Wallie, -y, adj., adv., n. Also: walli-, wylie. [? Cf. Wale n. a choice, the pick. Also in the later dial.]

A. adj.Fine, beautiful, excellent. b. comb.As Walliman, a name for the devil. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 41/45.
Quod he My kid, my capircalȝeane My bony bab … My tendir girdill my wally [M. wallie] gowdy
1603 Philotus 33.
Now wallie as the carle he caiges, Gudeman quha hes maid ȝour mustages?
1619 Sel. Biog. I 101.
Spouse, this wylie [v.r. wallie] March will make an end of thir things
b. 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 103.
The devill appeirit to you, quhom ye called Walliman, claid in quhyt cloathis
1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 103.
Ane of his ky … deit be your witchcraft … conforme to the pactioun maid betuix yow and your walliman

B. adv. Wallie fall (Fall v. 6 b), may good fortune befall, may things fall out well. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2434.
Gude day, gud day! Grit God saif baith ȝour graces! Wallie, wallie fall thay twa weill fairde faces!
1540 Lynd. Sat. 4333 (B).
Now wally faw that weilfard mow
a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1517.
Wallie fa yow if yow fart not quod Fairlie to his fair wyf
1629 Dalyell Darker Superst. 491.
Wally fall that quhyt head of thine

C. noun. A pretty toy. 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1694) 71.
For gentle-manny preaching they'l feed you up with penny whistles or nigg-noys bonny wallies [marg. children's toys and rattles]

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"Wallie adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/wallie_adj>

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