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.
WHIRLIWHA, n., v. Also whirly-wha, whirliewha(w), whurliwha, whurlywa. [′ʍɪrlɪ′ʍɑ]
I. n. A gewgaw, piece of fanciful ornamentation; in music: a trill, a series of grace-notes, an appoggiatura.Ayr. 1824 Galt Rothelan viii.:
There's mair gold about the whirli-whaw o' that ae buttonhole than in the whole bouk o' a rose noble.Gsw. 1863 H. Macdonald Poems 93:
Your Tamburinnis and your Grisis, Wi' a' their whirly-whas and graces.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 77:
The rumble-tumble flittin' day, it's aye a day o' steer; It's then we see oor neebor folks turn out their whirliwha's.Ayr. 1927 J. Carruthers A Man Beset i. ii.:
Holy water and rosaries and such-like whirliewhas.Sc. 1935 W. Soutar Poems in Sc. 40:
Her whurlywas [of a wren] Breel'd owre the caller braes.
II. v. To flatter, to deceive by flattery, to gull (Lth. 1880 Jam.). Vbl.n. whirliewhain.Sc. 1822 A. Sutherland Cospatrick II. vii.:
It does ane's heart gude to see how ye whurliwha a' round ye.Edb. 1872 J. Smith Jenny Blair 69:
“Nane o' yer whirliewha'in wi' me,” says I; “mind I wasna born yesterday.”
