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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1753

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PROLL, v. In phr. to proll thumbs, to seal a bargain by each party licking his thumb and pressing it to that of the other party to the agreement.Per. 1753 A. Nicol Rural Muse 14:
All bargains stood by shaking hands Or prolling thumbs.

[Poss., as Jam. suggests, a reduced form of Eng. parole, a pledged word, parol, of a contract made orally or informally.]

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"Proll v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/proll>

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