Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
TROILYA, n., adj. Also trujlla (Angus), trullia (Edm.), trulla-, trolla-, truyl-. [′trɔljə]
I. n. A supernatural being, a troll (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.). Hence derivs. trullascud, trujllascud, trollascod, n., “a witchlike woman” (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 217, 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.), a person bewitched by the trolls, esp. a sickly person who is wasting away (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); trulshket, trullyet, adj., sulky, untidy, slovenly (see quot.) (Sh. 1973).Sh. 1897 J. Jakobsen Dial. Sh. 40:
Trullyet (truyllet) and trulshket originally mean “trowy-like”, derived from truyll, O.N. troll, in the old language signifying trow (troll) or fairy, in modern Shetlandic an untidy being. As the Trows were always supposed to be both sulky and untidy beings, the words trullyet and trulshket have acquired both these meanings.
II. adj. Bewitched, under the influence of the trolls, sickly or wasting away (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.).
[O.Sc. (Sh.) troll, id., 1616, Norw. troll, dial. træjlli, an elf. The Sc. form is Trow, n., q.v. For the derivs. cf. Norw. dial. trollskot, Dan. dial. troldskudt, shot by a troll (see Elf-shot), trollut, ugly, bad, wicked.]
