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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.

Quotation dates: 1880

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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.]

10771

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