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: 1816-1834
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WALLY, n. Also wallie, wallet. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. valet. See W, letter, 5.
1. As in Eng., a personal servant or attendant. Phr. wally-de-sham, -shang, wall-i'-the-chamber, valet-de-chambre, id.; also a crony, a close companion (Abd. 1921, -shang).Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xxvii.:
I'm the Captain's wallie now.Slk. 1822 Hogg Three Perils of Man (1972) xxvii.:
A flunkey, or a wall-i'-the-chamber, as the Frenchman ca' it. . . . What's the great ill o' keeping a wally?Ayr. 1834 Galt Liter. Life III. 107:
The exciseman had been a wally-de-sham to my lord's brother.
2. A neat person of small stature, commonly used as a term of endearment (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 206, wallet).
