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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 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FAVILLO, n. “A lumpish, lazy, clumsy person” (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Adjs. faavaless (Ib.; Sh.11, Ork.2 1951), fievalis (Sh. 1825 Jam.), useless, inept, lazy, powerless. [′fɑ:vəlo]Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 104:
O! I wad glose him wi' me naevs The muckel creukid favillo!

[Cf. Sh. Norn, vavlet, vevlet, and with variant endings, vavlous, v(j)av(a)less, vjev-, having a weak grasp, fumbling, handless, of uncertain formation but appar. a deriv. of Norw. vavla, to waver, vacillate, go to and fro, O.N. vafla, id. Cf. Fyafly, and also Eng. waffle.]

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