A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Joly, adj. Also: jolye, jolie, jolly, jollie. [ME. iolie, joly (c 1325), iolif, iolyf (c 1305), e.m.E. also iolly, iollie (1562), OF. jolif, joli. Cf. Jelly adj.]
1. Gay, joyous, light-hearted, merry, jolly.1375 Barb. i. 332.
The quhethir he glaid was and ioly And till swylk thowlesnes he ȝeid As the cours askis off ȝowtheid Ib. viii. 455.
He wes bath ȝoung, stout and felloun, Richt ioly als and volageous; And for that he wes amourous [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii. 8.
Gled in hart and richt ioly c1420 Ratis R. 1406.
This eild is joly, proud and gay, And louis weil ay new aray a1500 Colk. Sow i. 309.
Joly Mertene with a mok 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 50.
Quhen I was ane ȝoung ioly gentyll man a1568 Scott iv. 58.
Sum luvis … With jeigis to mak thame joly ?a1648 Polemo-Mid. 35.
Duncan Oliphantus valde stalvartus & ejus Filius eldestus joly boyustransf. 1587-99 Hume i. 141.
Euen on my iolie lute, by night, … I sall … Thy glorie gladlie sing
b. Applied to amorous thoughts or feelings.?1438 Alex. ii. 7062.
The steid, and the ioly thocht, And thair proud amouris, me besoucht 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 5.
[Venus and Cupid], ȝe twa Fosteraris of … hait delyte, Ȝour joly wo neidlyngis most I endyte Ib. xii. Prol. 202.
Thochtfull luffaris rowmys to and fro To lys thar pane and pleyn thar joly wo
c. Of seasons, situations, occasions: Attended by or conducive to, gaiety, joyousness or amorousness.?1438 Alex. ii. 617.
Amouris, that ar ioly ay, Garris him sumquhyle bourd and play Ib. 6827.
The presoun [of Venus] is Licht and ioly and full of blis a1500 Henr. Fab. 506.
I will put on my haly dayis claithis, And mak me fresche agane this jolie May 1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 182.
Thir byrdis syngis in the schawys, As menstralis playng, The joly day now dawys
d. Jollie at the goose, the name of some game.1650 Rogers Social Life II. 206.
[The kirksession of St. Andrews arraigned several persons for] playing jollie at the goose [on Yule day]
2. Joyful, glad (of or at something or to do something.)1375 Barb. iv. 517.
Syne with the Kyng to his herbry Thai wend, baith ioyfull and ioly c1420 Wynt. v. 289.
Quhen deide wes he, Fele folk glad ware and joly ?1438 Alex. i. 9.
Gled in hart and richt ioly, To se Candas, the fair of face 1513 Doug. i. vi. 182.
Hyr self vplift to Paphum passyt swith, To vissy hir restyng place, joly and blith Ib. v. vi. 79.
This ȝongker … Joly and blyth, wenyng hym victour round Ib. vii. 31.
Joly and glaid thairof
3. a. High-hearted, gallant, brave.1375 Barb. xi. 524.
Thai war all ȝong men and ioly, And ȝarnand till do cheuelry c1420 Wynt. viii. 1064.
Than come thre bredyr off Normandy, Fayre yhong persownys and joly ?1438 Alex. ii. 4953.
Him semes stark and stith to feill, Baith ȝong and, be sembland, ioly
b. Puffed up with success; full of presumptuous pride or self-confidence.c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 113.
I synnit in consaving thochtis jolie, Vp to the hevin extolling myne ententioun 1587-99 Hume 82/62.
To make thee stand in aw when thow art ouer secure and iollie, remember thy … monstrous sinnes Ib. 83/126.
After well doing, be ware then of presumption, … be not iolly nor intemperate
4. Gay or brilliant in appearance; good-looking, handsome, pretty (person or animal); gaily attired (person); brave, splendid (company).(1) 1375 Barb. xii. 19.
He raid apon ane gay palfray, Litill and ioly ?1438 Alex. ii. 7758.
Porrus … , saw hir fetas and ioly, Ȝing and fare a1500 Henr. Fab. 890.
The jolie gillet, and the gentill steid Ib. 2827.
Wer I als fair as iolie Absolon, I am no causer of that greit beutie(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 69.
My self suld be full semlie with silkis arrayit, Gymp, jolie, and gent, richt joyous, and gentryce(3) 1375 Barb. xii. 180.
Thair avaward, that wes so stout, And syne ȝon othir ioly rout a1568 Jok & Jynny (Bann. MS. 138 a) 63.
I haif … Fyive hundreth fleis now in a flok: Call ȝe nocht that a joly menȝe?
b. Of things: Gay, bright, showy, splendid, fair, fine.c1420 Wynt. ix. 456.
Off Frawns then the Amyrale Wyth fayre and joly apparale 1456 Hay II. 56/20.
Beautee of corps, … quynte clething, and joly polist corps Ib. 63/34.
He that takis mare plesaunce in … delicious metis, joly clethingis a1500 Henr. Fab. 62.
Ane cok … quhilk fand ane iolie stone Ib. 2783.
‘Seis thow’, quod scho, ‘of corne ȝone jolie flat?’ a1500 Bernardus 198.
Trast hym nocht, suppose he were thi brudyr, Bot gef a ioly worde ay for ane vdyr a1500 Seven S. 297.
Of frutfull treis, … Our all the laif a joly pyne
5. As a more or less vague expression of admiration. a. Applied to ladies, = gay, fair.c1420 Wynt. viii. 6807.
Quhare ladyis joly Mycht se rycht weill how manfully Thaire luffaris bare thaim ?1438 Alex. ii. 641.
Bot Clarus now clamis senȝeory For thi luif, damysell ioly Ib. 1969.
I am our ald to clap or kis Maydin that ȝoung and ioly is Ib. 2538.
He said, ‘Swete hart, gay and joly, [etc.]’
b. = Handsome, brave, splendid, fine, excellent.a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 391.
Schir Gawyne the gay … , Joly and gentill and full cheuailrus a1500 Henr. Fab. 326.
In come Gib Hunter, our jolie cat Ib. 407.
Thame to keip scho had ane iolie cok Richt curageous a1500 Colk. Sow i. 306.
Joly lemmane, dawis it nocht day c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxiii. 55.
In quintiscence eik ingynouris joly, That far can multiplie in folie a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xli. 2.
Hay, now the day dauis; The jolie cok crauis c1620 Z. Boyd Zion's Fl. (1855) 82.
They're joly praters, but are jades to doe
6. Of bitches: In heat.c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiv. 8.
Quhone the biche is jolie and on rage Scho chesis not the grewhund 1535 Stewart 1947.
Quhen ane[s] jolie persauit wes ane beist … Scho suld be keipit closlie vndir cuir 1687 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 143.
Quhen the said bitches ar hot and jollie they conveine a great number of dogs [etc.]
