Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1824-1826
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†GALLIVASTER, -ar, n. Also galavaster. “One who gallivants, esp. a gasconading fellow; including the idea of tallness” (Abd. 1825 Jam., gallivaster). Used attrib. in quot. Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 46:
Nae galavaster caperin' wi' a rung, To shak' a fa', an' greet when he is flung.Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 98:
An' empty gallivastar feels Sat gazin' at the lasses.
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"Gallivaster n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gallivaster>
