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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TILLIESOUL, n. Also tilly-, tille-; tullisaul; tilliesow, tilly-, tally-, tillysou. A small private inn or lodging-house erected by a landed proprietor near his own residence to accommodate the servants and horses of his guests and any others “when he does not choose to entertain them at his own expense” (Lth. 1808 Jam., Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 468). Hist. Occas. of an inn in gen. and freq. surviving in place-names. See W. J. Watson Place-names Rs. and Crm. (1904) 77). [tɪle′sʌu(l)]Dmf. 1721 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XLI. 186:
At night we lodged in a very good house about a quarter of a mile off [Drumlanrig], which the Duke built for a Tillesoul as they are called. English people keep this house at the time and give very good entertamment.Inv. 1771 Forfeited Estate Papers (S.H.S.) 90:
If there is no intention of appointing a Tillysoul, or public house there.Sc. 1823 A. Sutherland Macrimmon iv.:
Ta grieve's house, and ta new tilliesow, and ta gardener's house.Rs., Inv. 1836 Tait's Mag. (Sept.) 560:
As for a Tillysou, it is exactly what Widow Macleary's Public was to the Baron of Bradwardine's Castle of Tullyveolan — a chapel of relief for the neighbouring great house. Here the numerous attendants of visitors to the chief or laird, as well as such strangers upon business as were not entitled to sit in his presence, found entertainment at reasonable cost. The little inn near Brahan Castle is named “the Tillysou of Brahan.”Rxb. 1853 J. Wilson Hawick (1858) 160:
He would say he would have a board placed before his house, with the announcement, “No Tillysow kept here.”Inv. 1956 Scots Mag. (July) 311:
They met in a public-house named the Tallysow near Invergarry.