Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
‡POLONIE, n. Also -y, ¶-mie, palonie, poll-, pill-. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. adj. polony, Polish.
1. A loose-fitting gown or coat worn occas. by women but more freq. by young boys, “a sort of waistcoat, generally of coarse blue cloth, with loose sloping skirts” (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.), a polonaise; a great-coat or surtout for older boys or men (w.Sc., Rxb. 1825 Jam.). Also in form pillonian, pollonian, id. and attrib., = made of coarse material.Sc. 1722 in Scottish Costume (Maxwell & Hutchinson 1958) 109:
Under his arm he carried what was then termed a brown polonie, or great coat.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 207:
Wi' a' his braws, and a pair o' new pillonian breeks o' his mither's making.Slk. 1818 Hogg Tales (1874) 77:
They'll hae to pit on their pollonians o' the pale colour o' the fair daylight.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail lv.:
One o' his mother's flannen polonies.Sc. 1825 Scott Letters (Cent. Ed.) IX. 68:
A sort of dress worn by children in Scotland and called a polony (polonaise perhaps) which is just a jacket and petticoat all in one buttoning down in front from the throat to a palm's breadth above the knee.Fif. 1867 S. Tytler Diamond Rose ii. iii.:
His “polomie,” or “daidle,” of blue linen caught on the thorn.
2. By extension (1) a loose, ill-fitting garment, a clumsy, outlandish article of dress (Cai. 1903 E.D.D.; Sh., Bnff., Abd. 1966); (2) in form pol(l)onian, an oddly-dressed person, an oddity, scarecrow, “sight” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., polonian, 1914 Angus Gl., ‡Sh. 1966).
[From †Polony, Fr. Pologne, Med. Lat. Polonia, Poland, †Polonian, a Pole.]
