Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1956-2004
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TOLLIE, n.1 Also to(a)lie, toley, toly. [′tole]
1. A small round cake of oatmeal or other kinds of bread (Lnk. 1825 Jam., to(a)lie).
2. Also tolly. A lump of excrement (Fif. 1825 Jam.), of a horse (Ayr. 1930) or dog (m.Lth. 1958). Gen. (exc. I.) Sc.Edb. 1956:
There is a counting-out rhyme: — "Eelie ollie, dog's tollie, Eelie ollie, out."Gsw. 1977 Alan Spence in Moira Burgess and Hamish Whyte Streets of Stone (1985) 152:
Tommy bestowing a shower of coins from the window, jolted back into his seat as the taxis moved off. Agnes turned in her seat for a last look at the scramble before they rounded the corner.
'God, wid ye look at them!' she said, laughing. 'Lik flies roon a toly!' Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 70:
toley Local term for the act or product of defecation. Sometimes used as a name for an objectionable person. m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 45:
Yae forenicht thro the Big Hoose rose-busses
thair cam on him a scabbit, hungert tod.
Nou he's twa tollies doon the birkenshaw.
3. Term of abuse for a person.Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 70:
toley Local term for the act or product of defecation. Sometimes used as a name for an objectionable person.Gsw. 1987 Peter Mason C'mon Geeze Yer Patter! 59:
Ye'r no winchin that wee toley, urye? Surely you're not courting that little piece of excrement?Sc. 1998 Scotsman 29 Dec 14:
If the wee toley had been called Tristan de Vere Courtney - an unlikelihood in itself, particularly in 1960s Bathgate - I would have felt the same way about that.Edb. 2004:
Shut yer face ya wee tollie!
