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: 1728, 1793-1857
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†GILLY-GAWPY, n. Also -gawpie, -gaupie; -gawpock (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 229). A gaping fool, a simpleton.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 149:
Think ye this Youth's a Gilly-gawpy.Peb. 1793 R. Brown Carlop Green (1817) 128:
And Freetock, wi' his flounder-face, The haveran' gilly gawpy.Edb. 1811 H. Macneill Bygane Times 28:
It's this that marks our senseless tawpies, And shames us a' as Gillygaupies.Per. 1857 J. Stewart Sketches 59:
Ah! mony a puir man's made unhappy In bucklin' wi' a gillygawpie.
