scotland.localmean.com/peely-wally
Peely-wally
PEE-lee WAH-lee
Meaning in Scotland
Pale, washed-out, or looking unwell.
Usually informal; avoid using it to diagnose someone’s health.
Natural examples
How Peely-wally appears in context
- You’re looking a bit peely-wally today.
- The paint turned peely-wally in the weak light.
Context profile
Tone, setting, audience, and caution
Context-dependent; examples show common everyday force.
Conversation, local writing, or Scottish institutional use depending on the entry.
Recognizable to many Scottish speakers, with uneven regional frequency.
Usually informal; avoid using it to diagnose someone’s health.
Common patterns
Phrases built around this meaning
- look peely-wally
- a bit peely-wally
- awfy peely-wally
Related meanings
Compare nearby Scottish terms
Evidence
Sources used for this entry
- Essential Scots-English DictionaryDictionaries of the Scots Language
Authoritative general reference with English definitions for thousands of Scots words and regional labels.
- 18 Braw Scottish Words and PhrasesVisitScotland
Public guide to familiar Scots words, example sentences, and pronunciation recordings.