Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1824-1842
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PARAFFLE, n., v. Also parafle (Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xxi.).
I. n. 1. A flourish, ostentatious display, fuss (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet Letter v.:
Touching the subject of this paraffle of words, it's not worth a pinch of tobacco.Sc. 1842 Tait's Mag. (Oct.) 637:
Geordie, man, ye'll no ken yoursel' in a' that paraffle o' purple an' fine linen.
2. Embroidery, fancy work (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).
II. v. Vbl.n. parafling, wordy equivocation, time-wasting evasion, the making of an ostentatious fuss.Abd. 1825 Jam.:
"Nane o' your parafling, haud up your hand and swear, or I'll send you to prison," said to a witness by a Buchan Bailie of Aberdeen.Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce I. xiii.:
I hate a' parade and vainglorious paraffling.
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"Paraffle n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/paraffle>
