Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1809-1822, 1887
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†GAVAL, v. Also gavawl, -aul. To revel, carouse (Ags.18 c.1890), live riotously. Mostly in vbl.n. gavalling, ¶gue wallie.Ayr. 1809 W. Craw Poet. Epistles 29–30:
Nor wi' them [rich people] think to stuff your bellies, . . . Nor wi' them vie in their gue wallies.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xliii.:
I filled a glass . . . without any preliminary reflections on the gavaulling of past times. [Entail (1823) III. xxx., gavaulings.]Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xxiii.:
Bailie M'Lucre . . . one night in going from a gavawlling with some of the neighbours . . . was overtaken by an apoplexy.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 74:
There was a coming and gaun aboot the place of ne'er-do-well dyvours and licht limmers who leeved at hack and manger . . . gavalling at the laird's expense.
