Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1700-1746, 1832-1934
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HALLOW, adj., n.1, v. Also halla, hally. Sc. forms of Eng. hollow. [′hɑlə]
I. adj. Hollow, sunken (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Abd., Ags., m.Lth. 1956).Lth. c.1700 R. Law Memorialls (1819) Pref. xxxii.:
Sometimes also the flesh is sunk in, and hallow.Bch. 1832 W. Scott Poems 20:
We ga'ed to the stripie in yon hallow green, An' puddl't till baith hae been wet to the e'en.Sc. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 186:
The hen's a hungry beast, The cock is hallow within.Bnff. 1934 J. M. Caie Kindly North 25:
Yer heid hings doon, yer lugs are tir't, ye're halla roon the een.
II. n. A hollow, a valley (Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; e.Rs.1 1929; w.Fif.1 1930, hally; Cai., Bnff., Abd., Ags., m.Lth., Uls. 1956).Sc. 1746 Trans. Gael. Soc. Inv. XXVIII. 181:
The Town of Linlithgow lying in a hallow upon the southside of a Large Lake.Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 4:
There was Tam that wins down in the hallow.Abd. c.1880 W. Robbie Yonderton (1928) 161:
It's jist t' come up throw the hallow there.Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sketches 80:
Snipe call frae the flossy hallow.Lnk. 1919 G. Rae Clyde and Tweed 58:
There's a wee spring set in a hallow, Whaur the laverocks pipe their sangs.Bnff. 1930 E. S. Rae Waff o' Win' 63:
Tae a wee hoose in the halla.
III. v. To make hollow (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Abd., Ags., m.Lth. 1956).Lnk. 1923 J. S. Martin Scottish Earth 39:
It [whistle]'s hallowed oot, And birlin' like a train.
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"Hallow adj., n.1, v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hallow_adj_n1_v>
