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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KAILIE, n., v. Also kal(e)y, kaily(ee), kaelyi (Uls. 1924 Northern Whig (2 Jan.)), kealie, ca(i)ley, caillyea (Patterson), cail(y)ie. These forms are obsol. and have been replaced by the orig. Gael. spelling Ceilidh. [′ke:l(j)i]

I. n. A social evening, esp. among neighbours, an evening's informal entertainment, gen. including singing and the telling of stories, a Rockin; a friendly visit (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., cailey, kailyee). Now Gen.Sc. (see note above), but orig. restricted to Celtic border areas. Phr.: to stay one's kailie, to sit a long time with a neighbour (Uls. 1924 Northern Whig (5 Jan.)).Uls. 1840 W. Carleton Traits and Stories (1854) I. 53:
As he came over on his kailyee, he had brought a drop in his pocket to sweeten the discoorse.Mry. 1852 A. Christie Mountain Strains 63:
When gossips to their kealies gang, The time flies past wi' tale and sang.n.Sc. 1875 W. A. Smith Lewsiana 129:
Those ranges of peat-stacks, representing many a gathering of neighbours to the cutting, and many a “caley” over the consuming in the long winter nights.Tyr. 1929 M. Mulcaghey Ballymulcaghey 10:
The ordinary conversations as I heard them by the fire-side during the winter nights as the old neighbours came in on their “kaley.”

II. v. To pay a friendly evening visit (Per., w.Lth. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 39.; Uls. 1924 Northern Whig (2 Jan.)),  to gossip (Uls. 1931 Ib. (16 Dec.); Mry., Uls. 1959), vbl.n. kalyin, gossiping (Lnk. 1954 Sc. Educ. Jnl. (30 July) 509). Hence kailiers, “people who stay too long in other folk's houses” (Crm., Inv. 1919 T.S.D.C., keilers: Uls.³ 1930).Uls. c.1916 S. S. McCurry Ballads 45:
He'd sit an' kaily by the hour When supper wuz in view.