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: 1375-1670
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Cumly, Comly, a. Also: cumlye, -lie, cumbly, -lie; comlie, -lé, comelie, comiley. [Northern ME. cumly, -li (14th c.), midl. and southern comly (c 1300), -lich, comely. The relationship to early ME. cumelich, OE. cýmlic is not clear.]
1. Of pleasing appearance; good-looking, handsome: a. Of persons (or animals), their form or features.(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 133.
Men mycht se than … so mony a cumly [E. cumbly] knycht c1420 Wynt. iv. 2497.
Large of lym and lyth he was, Cunnand, curtas, and cumly c1420 Ib. vii. 696.
Hys cumly sted of Araby ?1438 Alex. i. 1417.
He was … cumly of corps and assemble. [F. avenans] c1420 Ratis Raving 1136.
To mak a wicht hors of a wand, … A cumly lady of a clout a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 201.
Thay say, I sall to Paris, thair to compeir Befoir our cumlie King a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 989.
Syne his cumly cors celestiale Thai cled with purpour silk a1500 Doug. King Hart 82.
With feistis fell, … This cumlie court thair king thai kast to keip 1567 Satirical Poems iv. 110.
O wickit wemen, … Serpentis of kynde, thocht cumlie seme ȝour statuire! 1570 Leslie 71.
Galland and weill trappit horsis, … cumly to se c1590 Fowler I. 50/73.
A wedow fair, … with hir cumlye clenelye cheikis 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xxxiv.
Quhair are thy cumly cristall eis? c1615 Chron. Kings 101.
Ane cumlie ȝowth of braw statourabsol. a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 574.
The king with mony cumly out of the kirk is gane(b) a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xxxv. 75.
Sa comlie nane ar kend as is a ladye bricht 1603 Moysie 25.
He wes a man of comlie proportioun, … read beardit 1657 Balfour Ann. I. 76.
Joletta … a beutifull and comiley ladey
b. Of things. Also, having a pleasing effect.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvii. 1039.
Sanct Machor … in a litill tym gert wirk Of treis fare a cumly kirk c1450-2 Howlat 338.
In a cot armour Of all kynd of colour, Cumly and cleir a1500 Golagros and Gawane 407.
[He has] Mony kynrik to his clame, cumly to knaw a1500 Doug. King Hart 1.
King Hart, into his cumlie castell strang 15.. Clariodus ii. 1857.
Great was the banquit … With sweit love songs and cumlie minstrelly 1570 Leslie 71.
Mony ladies haiffing thair habilyemantis partly sett with goldsmyth work, … quhilk wes cumly to se 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 75.
Ane belhous betuix the twa chymnis couerit with stane on cumlie maner c1590 J. Stewart 93/492.
[The] cauld cumblie vmbrage of this cawe 1596 Dalr. I. 94/10.
The cleithing of the women … , baith cumlie and decent, and mekle to thair decore and outsett(b) 1570 Leslie 154.
Albeit it semit to be verray comlie and beautifull, yit it was more superfluows [etc.] 1670 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 264.
To caus rebuild the said wall, in as comlie ane way as befor it had been
c. Of actions: Graceful, elegant. a1568 Scott xxviii. 13.
Quhair I wes wont to se hir go … With cumly smylis 1570 Leslie 298.
Hir hienes … gaif thame most hartie thanckis, with loving countenance, and comelie behaviour a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxxiv. 20.
My lady … for hir cumlie courtlie graice may be ȝour luiking glas
2. Decent or respectable in appearance or procedure; seemly, decorous.After 1600 common in the Eng. form com(e)lie. 1558-66 Knox Wks. IV. 294.
Thair mycht be sean skipping not verry cumlie for honest wemen 1562-3 Winȝet II. 4/32.
Every man walking in a cumlie ordour according to his vocation 1579 Acts III. 89/1.
How the kirk … salbe governit in decent and cumly ordour 1596 Dalr. II. 377/7.
With al ceremonies due and decent, melt, cumlie, and honest 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 167.
That the wemen … sall repair to the kirk, everie ane of thame having a clock, as the maist decent and cumlie vtter garment 1616 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 84.
For serving of the said buirds and cheares in decent and cumlie forme as apperteanes 1631 Peebles Gleanings 95.
He sall … address him with thame to the kirk in cumlie and decent ordour
3. Gracious, kindly. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1459.
I worthie am to suffer deid, Bot gif thy cumlie mercy seik remeid
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"Cumly adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/cumly_adj>
