Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AULD-WARLD, AUL'-WARL', Aalwarl, adj. Belonging to the “old world,” to an older time; ancient, antique, old-fashioned, old. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1816 Scott B.Dwarf ii.:
He kens naething about thae new-fangled notions o' peace and quietness — he's a' for the auld-warld doings of lifting and laying on.ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Chron. of Keckleton (1888) 124:
Like Argus, or Fergus, or whatever auld-warld carl it was wha was gifted wi' a head dotted a' owre wi' een.Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie's Wallet 113:
He daundered doun closes, baith ourie an' dark; For he kend ilka doorstane and auld-warld mark.Arg.¹ 1928:
Aalwarl. This word is local, but seldom used now.

Phrase: Auld warl Fairy, “a human being not like this world, having a strange appearance; some of the sons of genius are so called” (MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 33 (1824)).