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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1438, 1513
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Joly-, Jolily, Jolely, adv. [ME. iolyly, jolily (c 1380), joliflich (14th c.).]
1. Cheerfully, merrily, gaily, sportively. ?1438 Alex. ii. 3174.
Then leuch the King richt mirrelly, And lauchand said thame iolely [etc.] ?1438 Ib. 7427.
Togidder hand in hand ȝeid thay, Singand and carraland iolely Of Alexanderis cheualry 1513 Doug. v. x. 90.
Als swyft as dalphyn fysch … Persand the wallys, that plays jolely
2. (Arrayed or accoutred) Gaily, bravely, splendidly. b. gen. Nobly, excellently. 1375 Barb. ix. 201(E).
[They] war a full gret cumpany Off men arayit jolyly [C. iolely] 1375 Ib. xv. 328.
Armyt jolily 1375 Ib. xvi. 514.
Thre hundyr horsyt jolyly c1420 Wynt. viii. 4866.
A damyselle Arayid jolyly [v. rr. iolely] and welle ?1438 Alex. i. 1175.
His armes he bare iolelyb. ?1438 Alex. II. 1314.
Now I wald … Lufe hir and serne hir iolely With sword of steill
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"Jolily adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/jolily>
