- dally (v.)
- c. 1300, "to talk, converse," possibly from Anglo-French dalier "to amuse oneself," which is of uncertain origin. Sense of "waste time" emerged by late 14c. Related: Dallied; dallying.
- dilly-dally (v.)
- 1741, probably a reduplication of dally. Related: Dilly-dallying.