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.
Quotation dates: 1840-1929
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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 and have been replaced by the orig.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.
