Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RILLIONIE, adj. Also -y. Merry, blithe, cheerful, lively, of a woman, “probably connected with Rullion which is in Fife metaphorically applied to a masculine female, as apparently suggesting the idea of some degree of roughness in manners” (Lth. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 263, a rulliony lass).
[Jam.'s suggested orig. is doubtful.]