A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513-1675
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Strangly, -lie, adv. Also: strangely, -lie, stronglie. [ME and e.m.E. strongluk- (Ancr. R.), stranglak- (Ayenbite), strongly (Wyclif), OE stranglíce; Strang adj. (adv.).]
1. Of fighting, etc.: Fiercely, violently. 1531 Bell. Boece I 74.
It had bene mair honest to thaim … to have fouchtin maist strangly to the deid 1533 Boece 117b.
Vespasiane … brocht his armye be haisty iournais and stranglie assegeit the sammyn 1535 Stewart 4160.
In that storme so stranglie tha war straist, Mony war lost and mycht no langer lest 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 90.
He was stronglie assaultit 1596 Dalr. I 323/20.
The king with a draune sworde pertlie and stranglie, and as his name was Fers, fercelie invades his faes 1596 Dalr. II 15/26.
Stranglie thair thay stryue
2. Of arguing, disputing, striving, opposing, etc.: Energetically, resolutely. c1520-c1535 Nisbet St. Jude 3.
To stryue stranglie for the faith 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (STS) 399.
He steirit vp the auld … doctouris to impugne and stranglie to confute all heresyis 1596 Dalr. II 230/13.
Quhen betuene baith stranglie was disputed, and peace was luiket for euer 1600-1610 Melvill 147.
The Lord began to call upon him, and wourk stranglie in his conscience
3. Of the manner of conducting the fortification or defence of a town, etc.: With great effort and means, determinedly, so as to resist a powerful force. 1513 Doug. xiii vii 72 (Sm.).
Citeis mony ane Full strangly beltit with hie wallis of stane a1578 Pitsc. I 51/1.
He might … furnische the castell witht mwnitioun, men and wictuallis stronglie a1585 Maitland Quarto MS 31/19.
To seige that toun that sa stranglie did stand a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 103.
The noblemen … drew thair forces towart Merchestoun to wyn it; bot it was sa stranglie keapit that [etc.] c1650 Spalding I 162.
The bischop of Morray … had befoir hand manit and fortifeit the samen stronglie
4. Of loving: Intensely, passionately. Only in Doug. 1513 Doug. i vi 69 (Sm.).
And stranglie luvit of the silly Dido 1513 Doug. i x 36.
This queyn … so with flambe of amouris till enbrace That by na mycht tharfra scho may remove Bot strangly [Ruddim. strangely] sall with me Eneas lufe 1513 Doug. v i 14.
Weil wyst Eneas … quhat thyngis mycht be controvyt By women in fury rage that strangly luffyt 1513 Doug. ix vii 136.
Sa strangly, his frend and fallow deir … belovit he, That rather for hys life him self list de 1513 Doug. x vi 84. 1513 Doug. xiii xi 33.
5. In general applications: Greatly, markedly; to an alarming degree. 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 40.
Nichtbors, we ar strangelie menassit in this toun Mr. Thomas Leslie sayd … that thair wald be folks schortlie in this toun quha wald rip up our housses and buthis [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 52.
Wakned upe the spreits of all guid brethring, and crabet the court stranglie ?1675 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 288.
The subdivisions, parts and pendikils off phanatisism doe strangly incresse hier
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"Strangly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/strangly>
