Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CARMAGNOLE, CARMAGNOL, n. Arch. [′kɑrmɑnjol]
1. Nickname for a soldier of the French revolutionary army. Entered in N.E.D. as Eng., but with exclusively Sc. examples.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail III. xii.:
The young soldier marched briskly along . . . flourishing his stick with all the cuts of the broadsword . . . and switching away the heads of the thistles and benweeds in his path, as if they had been Parisian carmagnols.
2. Applied to anyone who causes mischief or upheaval.Ayr. 1796 Burns To Colonel de Peyster (Cent. ed.) iv.:
Then that curst carmagnole, Auld Satan, Watches, like baudrons by a rattan, Our sinfu' saul.