Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SLY, n.¹, v.¹ Also slie; sloy. See also Scly. [slɑe; Lnk., sm.Sc. slɔi]

I. n. 1. A strip of ice or the like used as a slide by children (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; em.Sc. (b), Lnk., sm. and s.Sc. 1970). Also in extended form slyer, id. (Dmf. 1970).Kcb. 1903 Crockett Banner of Blue iv.:
The long slide or “sloy” gleaming black amang the white and trampled snow.Rxb. 1917 Southern Reporter (27 May) 3:
The “slies” down which we children wore out the soles of our boots.

2. The act of sliding on ice or the like (Lnk., sm. and s.Sc. 1970).Peb. 1884 J. Grosart Poems 80:
Oor last sloy on the auld Curlin' Pond.

II. v. To slide on ice, to skate (Lnk., sm. and s.Sc. 1970).s.Sc. 1927 Scots Mag. (April) 2:
They're a' richt for sli'in, but no for sledgin'. Rxb. 1965 Hawick Express (23 June) 4:
The skatin an sly-in in oor younger days.