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: 1814
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†DILLY DAW, n. comb. “One who is both slow and slovenly” (Fif. 1825 Jam.2), a slattern.Sc. 1814 C. I. Johnstone Saxon and Gael III. v.:
An' is it no angersome to see her like a dilly daw, an' bits o' creatures that she could keep at her fire-side, buskit up like Flanders-babies?Sc. 1814 C. I. Johnstone Saxon and Gael I. v.:
Our Jean's thinkin' o' the auld by-word, Ilka day braw, Maks Sabbath a dilly daw.
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"Dilly Daw n. comb.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/dilly_daw>
