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.
DAWLIE, DAWLY, Daly, adj., n.
1. adj. “Slow in motion” (Ayr. 1825 Jam.2); lazy, dawdling (Ayr. 1923 J. Wilson Dial. of Burns 92).Sc. 1862 A. Hislop Proverbs 47:
Dawted daughters mak dawly wives.Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 116:
“A working mother makes a daly daughter,” and so it happened here, for she had two idle glaket sluts of daughters.
2. n. One who is slow physically or mentally.Rnf. 1841 Extract from Letter (per wm.Sc.1):
The mother appeared to be a perfect dawlie.Gsw. 1868 J. Young Ingle Nook 61:
Little doot, he kent fu brawly Wha were the rogues; he was nae dawlie.
