Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†DALLDRUMS, Dauldrums, n.pl. Sc. forms of Eng. doldrums; also extended to mean “foolish fancies” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 158).Sc. 1898 L. B. Walford Leddy Marget xiii.:
Whiles she looks roon' at me wi' a kind o' lauch, and says, “Gibbie, I think I'm havin' dalldrums” — that's fancies, sir, jist foolish kind o' fancies.Gsw. 1898 D. Willox Poems and Sk. 254:
Ye chiels wha dree in dauldrums dull, An' fain wad flee frae ilka ill, Nae langer fret.
