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.
POOLLY-WOOLLY, int. Also pooly-whooly. An imit. representation of the call of the curlew.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck xii.:
We'll never mair scare at the poolly-woolly o' the whaup.Slk. c.1900 A. J. B. Paterson Mist from Yarrow 37:
I'm never lonely or eerie sae long as I can hear the pooly-whooly o' the whaup.
