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: 1991
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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).
