Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1896-1931
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HOROYALLY, n. Also -eh, hoyroyally; hoirychallie; hooryalach (Mry. 1971 Press & Jnl. (8 March)). A ceilidh, a sing-song, an uproarious party (Arg. 1957); fig. a to-do, a row. [horo′(ç)jale]Arg. 1896 N. Munro Lost Pibroch (1935) 89:
Little did my Rob need MacNicol's dirty money; but he was aye fond ofa "horoyally," and that's the way of his being among them.Arg. 1914 J. M. Hay Gillespie i. ix.:
If there wasna a horo-yalleh next mornin'.wm.Sc. 1923 H. Foulis Hurricane Jack 33:
He wass over wi' his boat one night at Tarbert at a horo-yally.Arg.1 1931:
It wuz a fine spree till the drink began an' then it ended up in a proper hoirychallie.
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"Horoyally n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 Mar 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/horoyally>
