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.
MALL, n. Of fishing lines, wool or the like: a tangle, a muddle, a “snarl” (Kcd. 1950). Freq. in comb. fangle-mall, id. See Fankle.
[Orig. doubtful. Phs. ad. †Eng. maul, a scrimmage, in rugby football, etc., or slang Eng. mull, a muddle, mess, which may be orig. the same word as Mell, n.1, v.2]
