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.
RIVVLE, n.1 Also reduplic. form rivvle pivvle (Marw.).
1. A mess or state of confusion, esp. of clothes; dishevelment, rags, tatters. Hence rivly, shabby, worn out, of clothes.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
His claes war a' in a rivvle aboot him.Ork. 1930 Orcadian (13 Feb.):
Not my best clothes, only auld rivly poogs.
2. Nonsense, balderdash (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
[? Cf. Norw. dial. (v)ravla. Dan. vrevla, vrøvla, to talk rubbish, to work in a slovenly manner, but phs. simply a variant of Raivel.]
