A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1596
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Baldly, Bauldly, adv. Also: baldlie, bauldlie, bawldlie. [Northern ME. baldly, early ME. baldeliche, OE. baldlíce (WS. Bealdlíce).]
1. With boldness in attack or defence.1375 Barb. iii. 14 (he bauldly thaim abaid). a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 806 (he semit baldly to abide); 883 (batteris on baldly). c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ii. 105 (Wallace bauldlye drew a swerd); iv. 421 (he bauldly loud can blaw). 1535 Stewart 2408 (for battell baldlie for till byde). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 18 (knichtis, that bauldlie did defend thair richtis). 1573 Satirical Poems xxxix. 129 (the generallis band come bauldlie at thair bak). 1596 Dalr. I. 281/25 (that thay mycht the baldlier thair battell promoue).
2. With boldness of speech or action; confidently.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 98 (the Pape baldly him bad that … ). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlii. 42 (Gud Houp bad me baldlie breve a bill). 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xviii (we dar the mair baldly writ sum thingis). 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 123 (I dar baldlie say). 1581 Satirical Poems xliv. 269 (sa may thou baldlie ane hear place cum craue).(b) c1420 Ratis Raving 964 (the schame scho wyll bere bauldly). a1500 Doug. King Hart 934 (bid him bawldlie bind it with ane clout). 1531 Bell. Boece I. 88 (as we dare bauldly afferme). 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 172 (I may richt bauldlie say). 1570 Leslie 22 (the Erle ansuerit owre fulie and bauldlie). 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 109 (I haue learned plainelie and bauldlie to call … a spead, a spead).
3. Severely; strongly.a1500 Golagros and Gawane 156 (than war I wourthy to be drawin baldly on bent). 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 18/8 (the boriall blastis sa bauldlie on thame blawis).
