Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
LILY, n. Also lullie (Fif. 1896 D. S. Meldrum Grey Mantle 290; Per. 1915 Wilson Lowl. Scotch 257). Sc. usages: 1. The narcissus, esp. the common daffodil and poetaz varieties, freq. distinguished as yellow and white lily (Sc. 1886 B. & H.; Uls. 1953 Traynor). Gen.Sc. Combs. (1) lamb-lily, the mountain asphodel, Tofieldia patustris (Ayr. 1886 B. & H.); (2) lily-can, the yellow water-lily, Nuphar luteum (Per., Fif. 1825 Jam., “the lily in the form of a cup or can”); (3) loch-lily, id. See Loch.Fif. c.1920 R. Holman Scottish Sketches 38:
At hame I look at a faded daffodil … the first yellow lily that you peened to my breest.
‡2. Aphthae or thrush, the children's ailment (Sc. 1825 Jam.); also infantile jaundice, Icterys neonatorum (Ags.20 1960). Cf. Gum, n.2, 2.
[Meaning 2. may be a different word or phs. is so called from a fancied resemblance of the symptomatic spots in the mouth to those on a lily. Cf. Rose.]
