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: 1815, 1866
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RALLY, v.1, n.1 Also Sc. forms ralli(e); ralyie; †ralzy (Sc. 1722 W. Hamilton Wallace xi. i.); ¶rajlli. Vbl.n., ppl.adj. rallyin, rallion- (Sc. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 137). Sc. usages:
I. v. 1. To crowd, press round, bunch together; to romp around together (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., rajlli, Sh. 1967).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 139:
A puckle o' the loons cam in aboot i' the gloamin, an' ralyiet aboot at tackie amo' the rucks for a file.
2. To wander back and forwards in a restless, disorderly manner.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 139:
They ralyiet oot an' an, an' but an' ben, a' day.
II. n. A disorderly crowd, a boisterous assembly of people (Gregor; Sh. 1967); the act of crowding together in a disorderly manner (Ib.); a piece of boisterous fun, a romp (Ib.).Per. 1815 A. Porteous Hist. Crieff (1912) 347:
Mr. Miller and Dr. Leitch came in while Mrs Caw and the farmer's wife were making the [bride's] bed. Would very fain have had a rallie on it, but we all violently opposed it.
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"Rally v.1, n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/rally_v1_n1>
