A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1610
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Fairly, -lie, adv. Also: fayrly, -lie, farlie, fearlie. [ME. fair-, fayr-, fayrely (c 1400), f. Fair a.] In a fair manner, in senses of the adjective. a1400 Legends of the Saints xix. 236.
Thane fand he a barne … That prayt hym farly [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. i. 212.
So fayrly Fortune with thame ȝhude c1420 Wynt. i. Prol. 17.
The poete Omere, and Vyrgylle Fayrly fowrmyde thare tretis c1420 Ib. 123.
To furthyre fayrly this purpos c1450-2 Howlat 261.
Than fairlie the fader thir fowlis he franyt a1500 Henr. Fab. 549.
God sen That I and thow wer fairlie in my den c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxx. 36.
In freiris weyd full fairly haif I fleichit 1540 Edinb. Chart. 211.
Thai … war ay fre for all payment … and ar infeft farlie thairintill a1578 Pitsc. I. 174/2.
Thinkand that the king sould be taine softlie and fairlie 1600-1610 Melvill 437.
Busk him as bonilie as ye can, and fetche him in als fearlie as yie will
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"Fairly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fairly>
