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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FALLOW, n.1 Also falla (Ayr. 1923 Wilson Dial. Burns 162; Gall. 1951); fallie (Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 245; Lth. 1926 Id. Cent. Scot. 241; Lnk. 1928 W. C. Fraser Yelpin' Stane 175); falley (s.Sc. 1938 Border Mag. (Oct.) 154); fallih (Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 20); fellae; felly; filla; fulla. Sc. (exc. I., n.) forms of Eng. fellow. Cf. Follow, n. [′fɑlə, ′fɑle]Edb. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 81:
Mislear'd Fallow, the meikle D—l speed him.
Ayr. 1787 Burns Letters (ed. Ferguson) No. 112:
I hae forgather'd wi' mony a guid fallow, and monie a weelfar'd hizzie.
Sc. 1824 Scott St Ronan's Well viii.:
A vara perfect blackguard, a poaching, sorning sort of fallow.
Dmf. 1915 J. L. Waugh Betty Grier 26:
In speaking of him to me she invariably refers to him as ‘Nathan, puir falla', with just the slightest suggestion of commiseration in her tone.
Gsw. 1972 Molly Weir Best Foot Forward (1974) 200:
'He wis wan o' thae fullas wi' eyes a' sewn wi' rid worset.'
wm.Sc. 1974 Roddy McMillan The Bevellers 24:
It planed right across the shop and caught this other fulla on the thigh.
Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 25:
filla A local pronunciation of fellow: 'How's the wee filla?' Your aul filla is your father.
wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 42:
I forgive him, no bother - but Heaven kens it's better Ah
Dinnae be seen tae have ony truck
Wi' the young filla- you're richt -
wm.Sc. 1991 Liz Lochhead Bagpipe Muzak 3:
Then this familiar-lukkin felly
I'd seen a loat oan the telly

[O.Sc. fal(l)ow, a comrade, fellow, from a.1400.]

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