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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
¶HELLIE-LAMB, n.comb. “A ludicrous designation given to a hump on the back” (Cld. 1825 Jam.).
[From Halie = lamb, as if the person were carrying a lamb on his back. For halie, cf. the notion of deformity as a special dispensation of God and various phrs. under Guild, III. 5. (2). Cf. also halie-hoo s.v. Hoo, n.2]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Hellie-lamb n. comb.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hellielamb>