A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500-1540, 1597-1629, 1692
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Wallie, -y, adj., adv., n. Also: walli-, wylie. [? Cf. Wale n. a choice, the pick. Also in the later dial.]
A. adj.Fine, beautiful, excellent. b. comb.As Walliman, a name for the devil.c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 41/45.
Quod he My kid, my capircalȝeane My bony bab … My tendir girdill my wally [M. wallie] gowdy 1603 Philotus 33.
Now wallie as the carle he caiges, Gudeman quha hes maid ȝour mustages? 1619 Select Biographies I 101.
Spouse, this wylie [v.r. wallie] March will make an end of thir thingsb. 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 103.
The devill appeirit to you, quhom ye called Walliman, claid in quhyt cloathis 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 103.
Ane of his ky … deit be your witchcraft … conforme to the pactioun maid betuix yow and your walliman
B. adv. Wallie fall (Fall v. 6 b), may good fortune befall, may things fall out well.1540 Lynd. Sat. 2434.
Gude day, gud day! Grit God saif baith ȝour graces! Wallie, wallie fall thay twa weill fairde faces! 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4333 (B).
Now wally faw that weilfard mow a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1517.
Wallie fa yow if yow fart not quod Fairlie to his fair wyf 1629 Dalyell Darker Superst. 491.
Wally fall that quhyt head of thine
C. noun. A pretty toy.1692 Presbyterian Eloquence (1694) 71.
For gentle-manny preaching they'l feed you up with penny whistles or nigg-noys bonny wallies [marg. children's toys and rattles]
