Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DILL, v.1, n.1 [dɪl]
1. v.
(1) To hang loose, to flap (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.10 1949). Comb. ¶dill-bells, fluttering rags. For bell see Pell, n.1, 2. Sh. 1958 New Shetlander No. 47. 9:
A young doctor, newly passed, wi a string o letters laek dill-bells efter his name.
(2) fig.: to loiter, jog idly along (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To dill awa de time, to idle away one's time by aimless walking about.Kcb.4 c.1900:
Dill a wee till we think what is next to be dune.
2. n. Something dangling, a rag (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[Norw. dial. dilla, to dangle, shake, Sw. dial. dilla, to swing. Cf. Dilder, which has a similar semantic development.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Dill v.1, n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 23 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/dill_v1_n1>