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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GILLYGACUS, Gilli(e)gac(h)us, n. A silly person, a fool (Sc. 1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs II. 252; Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems, Gl. 233, gilliegachus). Cf. Gilly-gawkie.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 132:
Thus to Leuconoe sang sweet Flaccus, Wha nane e'er thought a Gillygacus.
Fif. 1805 J. Fleming Poems 10:
Ay blethrin' like a gilligacus, Or weel sairt witless son o' Bacchus.

[Gilly-, as in Gilliegascon, q.v. + Gawkus, q.v.]

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"Gillygacus n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gillygacus>

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