Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

peely-wally

Adjective

ˈpiːli ˈwɑːli

Definition

Pale or sickly-looking; often used to describe someone who appears unwell or lacking in color.

Examples

After spending the winter indoors, she looked a bit peely-wally when she finally went outside.
The child’s face was peely-wally after recovering from the flu.
He described himself as peely-wally because he hadn’t seen the sun in days.

Meaning

The term is commonly used in Scottish dialect to refer to a person who seems unhealthy or has a pale complexion, particularly when they look faint or weak.