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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GILEYNOUR, n. A cheat, swindler. Also gillenyer; gielainger, golinger, gullainger, “a contemptuous term” (Dmf. 1808 Jam.), gallayniel, “a big, gluttonous, ruthless man” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.). D. M. Ogilvy Willie Wabster (1868) 19 has gamgallaniel (gam = slang game, inclined for amorous sport).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 307:
The greedy Man and the Gileynour are soon agreed.
Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 90:
Gielaingers, and each greedy Wight, You place them in their proper Light.
Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck x.:
Wae be to them for a pack o' greedy gallayniels — they haena the mence of a miller's yaud.
Dmf. 1835 Carlyle Letters (Norton) II. 281:
You can be far more confortable than heretofore with such a set of gillenyers.
m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 149: 
See an' no devour't a' then, ye greedy gullainger ye!
Sc.(E) 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ iii. l.:
What is a man the better for bein' regairdit grit be men? the gileynour blaflums the gileynour . . . the blin' the blin'.

[O.Sc. has golenzeour, a deceitful person, 1590; cf. gillenzei, golinzie, galenzei, a deceitful or evasive statement, a dodge, from 1504, of obscure origin.]

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"Gileynour n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 26 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gileynour>

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