Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1842-1874, 1955-1957
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WALGAN, n., v. Also walgin, walgon (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.), and in dim. form walgie. [′wɑlgən]
I. n. 1. A leather wool-sack, a calf-skin bag (n.Sc. 1808 Jam., walgie), a pouch, a wallet (Abd. 1825 Jam., Abd. 1951, obsol.). Also fig.Ags. 1842 Whistle-Binkie 92:
She took her cairds, an' cairdin' skin, Her walgie, fu' o' creeshie woo.ne.Sc. 1874 W. Gregor Olden Time vi.:
The writer's walgan is not empty.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick iv.:
'At's a gey wechty walgin ye hae upo yer shooders.
2. An ill-fitting, and freq. a dirty garment (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 206; ne.Sc. 1925).
3. A large, clumsy, overgrown person (Bnff. 1951 Bnff. Herald (1 Dec.)) or thing (Abd. 1973).Kcd. 1957 Mearns Leader (30 Aug.):
Ye should see the tremendous walgan o' a cabbitch that Kirsty Skelloch is growin'.
II. v. “To go about in an idle, slovenly manner, dressed in too large, slatternly clothing” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 206; Abd. 1925).
[Ad. Gael. bhalgan, aspirated form of balgan, a little bag, wallet.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Walgan n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/walgan>
