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.
(Chefely,) Cheiflie, adv. Also: chiefly, cheaflie, chyflie; scheiflie. [e.m.E. chief(e)ly, ME. chefly (14th c.), f. Chefe a.] Principally, chiefly.1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 99 (that al errour hes cheiflie procedit … ). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 66/13 (in the quhilkis maist cheiflie ȝe appere … ). 1573 Sat. P. xl. 92 (quhair chiefly I wald be). a1585 Maitl. Q. lxii. 125 (cheiflie Mortoun and Lochlevin by name). 1588 Events Q. Mary 54 (the man he hes chiefliest to do with). 1596 Dalr. I. 5/26 (cheiflie in Orknay, Cathnesse, and Rosse). 1615 Highland P. III. 282 (being cheiflie cairfull of the saftie of the cuntrie). 1641 Acts V. 606/2 (the teind of fisches, scheiflie of herring).
