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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†GILLIEBIRSE, n. [′gɪlɪ̢-]
1. "A cushion [pad], generally of hair, formerly worn on the forehead of a female, over which the hair was combed" (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).
2. "Cheek, impudence: 'Gie's nane o' eer gilliebirse'" (‡ne.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
[? Gillie, n.1, 2. + Birse, n.1, a bristle, hair. For the peculiar extension in 2. cf. colloq. Eng. "none of your lip, cheek".]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Gilliebirse n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gilliebirse>
