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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.

DEVILTRY, n. Devilry (Bnff.², Abd.⁹, Fif.¹, Kcb.¹ 1940; Rnf. 1949 (per Abd.²⁷)). Found also in Eng. dial. and in U.S.A. Also comb. dare-deviltry. Cf. Deeviltry.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!