tilly-vally

English

Alternative forms

• tilly-fally
• tillie vallie

Etymology

Unknown.

Interjection

tilly-vally

1. (obsolete) Expressing contempt, or rejecting anything trifling or impertinent.
   • c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     Sir Toby Belch: My lady's a Cataian, we are politicians, Malvolio's
     a Peg-a-Ramsey, and 'Three merry men be we.' Am not
     I consanguineous? am I not of her blood?
     Tillyvally. Lady!

References

• “tilly-vally”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.