Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Dolly, Dowy, a. Also: dollie, dowie. [Of obscure origin; in later dial. as dowie. Cf. Dully a.] Sad, woeful, dismal. a1500 Henr. Orph. 134.
O dulfull harp, with mony dolly stryng Ib. 310.
O dolly place and groundles depe dungeoun c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 412.
Now done is my dolly night, my day is vpsprungin 1513 Doug. vi. ix. 80.
Als tyte As thai cum in that dolly pit of syte Ib. vii. Prol. 51.
The dolly [Sm. dowy] dichis war all donk and wait Ib. x. iv. 74.
The dolly [R. dowy] tonys and lays lamentabill 1533 Boece iv. ix. 140 b.
Eftir this vnhappy and dolly iournay Ib. xvi. 154 b.
The day following this dolly nycht Ib. vi. xvi. 219.
To … indure the residew of thare dolly dayis 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 19 (M).
This I thocht in to my dollie dreme, I brak my heid vpon ane kirne of reim 1581 Sempill Sat. P. xliii. 171.
Out of his dowie den Maist lyke a fox thay fyrit him in his nest