dilly-dalls n pl also dilly dolly. Cp OED dilly-dally v. Periods of a dead calm at sea.
   1904 Nfld Qtly iii (4), 9 [in comment on Dildo Run, near Exploits River] Our people, speaking of a ship in the doldrums, say 'she is in the Dilly dollies.' 1924 Deep Sea Fishers xxi (4), 138 Dilly-dalls. [A] calm.

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