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.
SWALLA, n. Dim. form swallock (Rs. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 III. 372). Sc. form and usages of Eng. swallow, the bird, Hirundo rustica (Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson, Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai, Abd. 1958 People's Journal (30 Aug.)). [n. and wm. Sc. ′swɑlə; em. and s.Sc. ′swɑle]
Sc. form of Eng. swallow, the bird.wm.Sc. 1991 James Russell Grant in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 55:
The aeryplane finally lans wi never a wing-beat mair
The lift fills up oan the meenit wi millions ae swallaes
1. Sc. comb.: swallow-hawk, the swift, Apus apus (Ayr. 1929 Paton and Pike Birds Ayr. 89; Ork. 1972).
2. Applied freq. as in Eng. dial. to the martin, Delichon (Rxb. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 56, 1923 Watson W.-B.; n., em., wm., s.Sc. 1972).
†3. The stormy petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica (Sh. 1865 Zoologist XXIII. 9402, swallow).
