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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.

Ferly, Ferlie, n. Also: feirlie; pl. ferlyis, -lys, -lis, -lies, -leis, -les. [ME. ferly, ferli (a 1300), f. Ferlya. Cf. Farly n.]

1. A marvellous thing; a wonder. 1375 Barb. iii. 243.
Quhen Hanibal saw this ferly, … He left the toune a1400 Leg. S. vi. 523.
Quhen scho sene had sere ferlyis, That Thomas dyd Ib. xxvii. 571; etc.
A lytil barne … saw hou this ferly fel c1420 Wynt. i. 825.
In Ynd ar othir ferlyis sere, That I lewe for to relkyn here c1450-2 Howlat 46.
Of that ferly on fold I fell in affray c1515 Asl. MS. I. 235/16.
All officeris that war put in be thaim war clerlie put out of all officis … and this was a gret ferlie 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 22.
The sylly hyrd … Wondris of the sovnd and ferly he has seyn 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 155 b.
Thir strange ferlyis astonist mekill the pepill 1567 G. Ball. 112.
The Lord … The quhilk has … maid the eird sa meruellouslie And all the ferleis of the same 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 321.
In this mene tyme wes ane greit feirlie in Montrois

b. Without article, in predicative use. Also na ferly, gret ferly, quhat ferly. 1375 Barb. xiv. 245.
Thai mycht apon the hillis se Sa mony men, it wes ferly c1420 Wynt. iv. 650.
Off thare fychtyng was ferly Ib. vii. 2029 (W.).
All tharby Off that thing thocht gret ferly 1456 Hay I. 97/29.
It is na ferly, suppos a man have grete drede to tak the charge of the governaunce of a realme a1500 Prestis of Peblis 246.
Quhat ferly is thocht burges barnis beg? c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 106.
Quhat ferly is thocht thow reioys to flyte? Ib. xxvii. 23.
Na ferly thocht his hart was licht 15.. Clar. i. 69.
Scheding utheris blude So furiouslie, that ferlie was to see 1570 Sat. P. xii. 121.
I think greit ferly how ȝe can be red 1603 Philotus lviii.
Quhat ferly thocht puir I … Confes the force of the blynd archer boy

2. To have ferly, to marvel, wonder. 1375 Barb. xiv. 506.
[Thai] had gret ferly That sa quheyn durst … Wndertak sa hye empris Ib. xix. 401.
Of thir twa thyngis thai had ferly a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1335.
Sanct Colme … & his cumpany … haffand ferly held thame still c1420 Wynt. v. 67.
Thare-off the Romanys had ferly Ib. 226.
All that herd … Off hys wyt had gret ferly a1500 Rauf C. 903.
Now haue I ferlie, gif I fauour thé ocht 15.. Clar. i. 1083.
Thairof ȝe awcht have none ferlie Ib. iv. 1076.
Thai about had ferlie that him saw