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: 1535-1586
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Erthly, Eirthly, a. Also: -lye, -lie, earthlie. [e.m.E. earthly, ME. erthly, OE. eorðlic. Common in late 16th c. in place of the earlier Sc. Erdly a.] Earthly: a. Of things. b. Of persons (or creatures).a. 1535 Stewart 36059.
He wes aboue all erthlie thing So far addettit to that nobill king c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6299.
In erthlye materis tak thé no more cummer 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 28*.
Hov kyngis hes no erthlie permanence c1568 Id. Minor P. i. 144.
This earthlie trubill is thair grit consolatioun 1571 Ferg. Tracts 78.
Quha be eirthlie thingis mon be taucht … to vnderstand heuinly thingis a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS clxxix. 101.
Eirthelie ioy can nocht remaneb. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 725.
Dotit with gyftis of Nature Aboue all erthlye creature 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 230.
But feir of ony erthlie man a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS cxvi. 2.
This warldlie ioy is onlie fantasie Quhairof no eirthlie wycht can be content
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"Erthly adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/erthly>
