Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LALL, n.² Also lal (Marw.) and freq. in dim. forms lallo (Ork.), lal(l)ie, -y, laaly, -i, laulie (Sh.). A child's toy, a plaything (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 132; Sh., Ork. 1960). Also attrib. and fig. [lɑl(e)]Sh. 1892 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 33:
A creetik's pen is no a laaly.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 320:
Ither poleetical faldaralls, fairilies an' lalls am dootin' he deusna ken ower muckle aboot.Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. 138:
Mair laek bits o bairns at's gotten a new lallie.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 27:
That's not an animal, it's a dash hound, one of them lalie dogs for ladies.