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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1721, 1789

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HARLETILLIM, n. prop. Used (1) in phr. to come of the house of Harletillim, to be of a selfish or grasping disposition; (2) attrib. = penurious, niggardly, covetous.(1) Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 394:
You are one of the house of Harletillim. Spoken to them who are catching at, and taking away what they can get.
(2) Ayr. 1789 D. Sillar Poems 98:
Or like the Harletillim set, The mair ye hae yoursell, . . . Your cravin' grows mair snell.

[i.e. harl-till-'im, see Harl, v., 4. The form has been influenced by the place-name Pickletillum.]

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"Harletillim n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/harletillim>

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