int. Sc. and north. 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.
