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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MOLLOP, v., n. Also mollup (Jam.); mollet; mallick (Watson).

I. v. To toss the head disdainfully (Slk. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.) to give oneself airs, to be capricious (Watson).Slk. 1818 Hogg Wool Gatherer (1874) 74:
I'm nane o' your molloping, precise flegaries, that want to be miss'd, an' beekit, an' bowed to.

II. n., in pl.: airs, capricious or coquettish behaviour, antics, capers (Rxb. 1825 Jam., mollets, 1923 Watson W.-B.); odd gestures with the hands (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 118).Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 13:
Set ee up wui eer feiky mollups an eer friggeen an falderals! Some folk heh sic a tredd wui theresels, — primpin!

[? From Mollat, q.v., a bit for a horse, hence the head-tossing caused by restraint by a bit. Cf. Eng. bridle, with sim. development of meaning.]

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