A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Meryly, Merily, Merel(l)y, Mirrel(l)y, adv. Also: merylie, merel(l)ie, mearelie; mirrily, -ie, mirral(l)ie, myrrillie, -ely, -ellie, -alye; merrilie. [ME. (14th c.) myrily, (north.) meryly, also muryly, murely, e.m.E. merely, merrily, f. Mery,a.]
1. In various senses of Mery a.: Merrily, cheerfully, light-heartedly, gaily, happily; joyfully, (of music) delightfully; with mirth or jollity.(a) a1500 Henr. Test. Crees. 243.
Setting sangis and singand merilie Ib. 428.
Quhair thou was wont full merilye in May To walk a1500 Colk. Sow i. 294. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 128.
On harp or lute full merily thai playit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2847.
Thay … Payit all his dettis and leifit als merylie As of befoir 1566 Anderson Collect. Mary II. 273.
Thay past togydder to Seytoun, and thair past tyme meryly to the 10th of Marche 1567 Cal. Sc. P. II. 395.
She is in als guid health of persoune and … als merylie disposed as at any tym 1568 Lyndesay Pref.
The King … leuch merilie thairat 1567 G. Ball. 156.
The laudis of the Lord … Ȝe may sing merilie 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i. 184.
Mariners … Their chearful whisles meryly do sownd(b) ?1438 Alex. ii. 3788.
Sporting thame richt merelly Ib. 506. Ib. 3921. 1513 Doug. viii. xi. 50.
Hoppand and syngand wonder merely Ib. xiii. vi. 45. c1590 J. Stewart II. 137, æ 5.
Vther birdis merelie did sing(c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 245.
The joyfull fewlis mirralie did sing 1513 Doug. v. i. 71.
Myrrely Thame welcumand 1535 Stewart 39550.
Richt mirrely ay wauchtand round about 1540 Lynd. Sat. 112.
Sa lang as Placebo and I Remanis … Ȝour grace sall leif richt mirrely c1552 Id. Mon. 192.
The merll rycht myrralye Ib. 2827.
With bankat royall myrrellie Scho treatit thame tryumphantlie 15.. Clar. ii. 361.
He sang it with the harpe rycht myrrillie 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6469.
Sa he as than departit mirrelie Traisting his tryist in all thing weill suld be a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 222.
He came to the verie place whare Angus was mirrelie camping 1663 Nicoll Diary 391.
They drank mirrelie, and brak thair glasses
b. Jocularly, jestingly.1558-66 Knox I. 39.
And thus he mearelie tanted thare trystis of hurdome and adulterye c1590 Fowler II. 28/29. 1596 Dalr. II. 8/11. 1600-1610 Melvill 437.
Mr Jhone Davidsone … said mirrelie, ‘Busk, busk, busk him als bonilie as ye can’ 1619 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 81.
He answered … two thrie idle questions mirrilie a1650 Row 287. 1650 Brechin Presb. 45.
2. (To advance, proceed, etc.) cheerfully, livelily, briskly.a1447 Bower Chron. II. 362.
Now row we merely, quoth John Birley a1500 Henr. Fab. 356 (Asl.).
Quhen scho was furth … scho was full fane And merely scho merkit unto the mur 1513 Doug. i. i. 64.
With bent sail full. rycht merely saland Ib. v. xiv, heading.
Throu owt the flude merely salys Ene, And Palynurus drownys in the see 15.. Clar. v. 2578.
Thai raid full mirrallie
