Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(S.Afr., mainly Western Cape) a friend, a pal; thus ou pellie, old friend; pellie blou, a ‘real pal’, a ‘bosom-buddy’ (the blou means blue, as in ‘true blue’).

1959		A. Delius Last Division 75: Me and some old pallies from the war / Drank a few doppies to the old Cape Corps.
1963		A. Fugard Blood Knot (1968) 94: Zach, he says, Ou Pellie, tonight is the night.
1966		C. Van Heyningen Uys Krige 114: Most Cape Town ‘Coloureds’ use such words as ‘pellie-blou’.
1966		S. Clouts ‘Over the Side’ in One Life 51: Ou Pellie dives [...] Ou Pellie wakes that water.
1974		‘Blossom’ in Darling 9 Oct. 95: They all pally blues, see, what’s travelling around seeing the world together in an old clapped-out Kombi [DSAE].
1977		D. Muller Whitey 108: The skolly’s face grew solemn with concern as he squatted down and peered closely. ‘You don’t look so good, ou pellie,’ said Boon. [...] It’s the vlam. I can smell you’ve been drinking the blue-ocean, ou pellie.
1983		J. Matthews The Park and Other Stories (2nd edn) 43: ‘No dice, Sly ou pellie,’ Jammie said.
1992		K. Williams in South 27 Feb. 23: The former ‘Dollar’ says he and Coetzee have been pellies since District 6 [DSAE].