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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WALLOCH, v.², n.² Also wallach; warrach. [′wɑləx, Mry. + ′wɑlək]

I. v. To cry, wail, shriek, scream, howl (Ags. 1808 Jam., wallach; Abd. 1973). Ppl.adj. wallachin, screaming (Slg., Cld. 1880 Jam.), noisy, demonstrative (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 206), scolding, abusive (n.Sc. 1808 Jam., warrachand), vbl.n. wallachan, the act of screaming, a continued scream (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 206). Comb. walloch-goul, a noisy blustering fellow (Ayr. 1825 Jam.), a female of slovenly appearance (Ib). These latter usages are of doubtful authenticity.Bnff. 1852 A. Harper Solitary Hours 68:
And a' the witches o' Glenshalloch Up in the welkin yout and wallach!Abd. 1942 Scots Mag. (July) 276:
The teuchat's wallochin' to the ploo.

II. n. 1. A scream, howl, wail (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 206; Mry., Abd. 1973); a din, noise, sound; way of speaking, distinctive accent, dialect.Abd. 1898 J. Milne Poems 23:
To leave their native walloch Till it sounds a foreign thing.Abd. 1898 W. Brewster Poems 18:
The walloch o' their wildest mirth Is music saft an' sweet.Ags. 1929 Holyrood (Hamilton) 174:
Eh, lease me on yon walloch for an hour That rants in the smiddies o' the North Countree!

2. A demonstrative noisy person (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 206).

3. The lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (Mry. 1825 Jam., Mry. 1973, wallock). Also in dim. wallackie (Bnff., Mry. 1973). Comb. wallachie-weit, wallacky-wa-we't, id. (Kcd. 1825 Jam.). Cf. wallopie, wallop-a-weet s.v. Wallop, n.³Abd. 1831 Aberdeen Mag. 643:
Running about the sea-shore yawmering like a herrit walloch.Abd. 1899 Trans. Buchan Field Club 68:
Wallacky, wallacky, wa' we't Herit my nest an' awa' we't.