auld allyn.
/ˌɔːld ˈalʌɪ/, /ˌəʊld ˈalʌɪ/, U.S. /ˌɔld ˈæˌlaɪ/, /ˌɑld ˈæˌlaɪ/, /ˌɔld əˈlaɪ/, /ˌɑld əˈlaɪ/, Scottish English /ˌɔld ˈalaɪ/ Chiefly with the: France, as a traditional ally of Scotland; (also occasionally) Scotland viewed in relation to France. Also in plural: the French, as traditional allies of Scotland. See auld alliance n. Cf. auld enemy, variant of old enemy at old adj. Compounds 4.
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1860 P. Lorimer Sc. Reformation ii. 170 The citizens of Edinburgh..had as much reason to dread and resent the insolent violence of their ‘auld allies’ of France, as the attacks of their ‘auld enemies of England’.
1867 J. H. Burton Hist. Scotl. to 1688 IV. xxxvii. 2 She might have..judged that, when France interfered in Scotland, the old ally would get no better toleration than the old enemy.
1890 A. Lang in H. G. Hutchinson et al. Golf (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) i. 11 The game of pell mell is probably older in Scotland than England, and was borrowed from our ‘auld ally’ of France.
1932 A. I. Cameron Warrender Papers II. 289 To raise the importance of the ‘auld ally’ in the eyes of France..stress was laid upon the part played by Scottish scholars in founding universities at Paris and Padua.
1977 W. Ferguson Scotland's Relations Eng. iv. 63 The treaty of Boulogne threatened Scotland from a new quarter—from the old ally itself.
1995 Independent (Nexis) 30 Aug. 3 Enjoy what our Auld Allies call la vie de chateau.
2007 J. E. A. Dawson Scotl. Re-formed Introd. 25 The country readily embraced most European fashions and cultural trends usually after they had acquired a French flavour by travelling via the auld ally.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1860