Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1887-1931
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DEVILTRY, n. Devilry (Bnff.2, Abd.9, Fif.1, Kcb.1 1940; Rnf. 1949 (per Abd.27)). Also deeviltry (known to Ags.17 1950). Found also in Eng. dial. and in U.S.A. Also comb. dare-deviltry. Ags. 1887 A. D. Willock Rosetty Ends 103:
He had a kind o' unsettled dare-deviltry aboot him that taen him into hunders o' scrapes.Ags. 1889 J. M. Barrie W. in Thrums v.:
If cocks could fecht sae weel oot o' mere deviltry, surely the Greeks would fecht terrible for their gods and their bairns an' the other things.Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders vi.:
There's deviltry afoot!Sh. 1931 J. J. H. Burgess in Shet. Almanac 185:
If I wis ta turn tu an' wraet doon da stoary o' a' da madrim an' deeviltry 'at I'm been connec'it wi' i' my time, I'm shure I wid be able ta set oot a book.
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"Deviltry n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/deviltry>
