int. Obs. or arch. Also 6 tully valy, 7 tillie vallie, 7, 9 tilly-fally, 9 tilley-valley. [Origin unknown.] An exclamation of impatience: Nonsense! fiddlesticks!
a. 1529. Skelton, Manerly Marg. Mylk & Ale, 5. Tully valy, strawe, let be, I say!
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. v. 90. Tilly-fally (Sir Iohn) neuer tell me, your ancient Swaggerer comes not in my doores. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., II. iii. 83. Am not I consanguinious? Am I not of her blood? tilly vally.
c. 1630. Life Sir T. More, iv. 127. Tillie vallie, tillie vallie: will you sitt and make goslings in the ashes?
1816. Scott, Antiq., vi. Tilley-valley, Mr. Lovel—which, by the way, one commentator derives from tittivillitium, and another from talley-ho—but tilley-valley, I say, a truce with your politeness.
1864. St. James’ Mag., 334. Tilly-fally, man!—But go on with your evidence, brother Burt.
