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.
VOLAGE, adj., v. Also vollage; volish, vallawish; fallauge, falawdge; philarge. [′volədʒ, -ɪʃ, vo′lɑdʒ, fə′lɑdʒ]
I. adj. 1. As in Eng., giddy, heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, esp. of speech. Deriv. volageous, light, airy-fairy, boastful (Cld. 1880 Jam.).
2. Lavish, profuse, prodigal with money (Abd. 1825 Jam., fallauge, falawdge, valawish).Abd. 1825 Jam.:
He's unco volage o' his siller.Abd. 1936 D. Bruce Cheengefu' Wordle 27:
Yer muckle gentry's aye philarge wi' their siller.
II. v. To talk ostentatiously (Cld. 1825 Jam., volish). Hence deriv. n. volisher, an ostentatious talker, a boaster (Ib.).
[O.Sc. volageous, 1375, vollage, 1549, O.Fr. volage(ous), flighty, giddy. The word died out in Eng. in the 16th c. and was re-introduced from Fr. in the 18th., hence the alternation in stress-accent.]
