Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

WALLY, adj. Also walie, waly. Wave-tossed, swelling, as a stock poetic epithet of the sea, prob. derived from the usage in Douglas's Palace of Honour (1501) ii. xxxv., but in later use phs. associated by the authors with Wallie, adj., or Waly. Liter.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 244:
Much dawted by the Gods is he, Wha to the Indian Plain, Successfu' ploughs the wally Sea.Gsw. 1863 J. Young Ingle Nook 22, 66:
The noo unruffl't waly main . . . Across the walie, traekless sea.Sc. 1947 New Shetlander No. 1. 8:
Aye it soars and sings aboon Thon walie sea.