▪ I. waly, int. Sc. and north.
(ˈwɔːlɪ)
Also wally, walie.
[Of obscure formation; ? cognate with woe, wellaway.]
An exclamation of sorrow.
| a 1724 ‘O waly, waly’ in Ramsay's Tea-t. Misc. (1775) I. 186 O waly, waly up the bank, And waly, waly down the brae. 1883 Gateshead Alm. (E.D.D.), Wally! Wally! it's a' ower noo! 1894 J. W. M'Laren Tibbie & Tam 41 (E.D.D.) But walie! the sight gar'd even puir Baudrons..jump nearly four feet wi' fricht. |
Hence waly-walying, lamentation.
| 1821 Galt Ann. Parish xvii. 161 Such a wally wallying as the news of this caused at every door. |
▪ II. waly
variant of wali, wally a.2