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: 1530-1590, 1653-1665
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Gully, n. Also: guly, guillie, gowl(l)y. [Of obscure origin. Also in north. Eng. dialects (1674–).] A large knife. Also attrib. with knyff.c 1530 Dundee Treas. Acc. in Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries II. 349.
A rassour, A guly knyff a1568 Bannatyne MS 163 a/13.
Owt of his scheith his gowlly owtgat. Sanct Petir socht this gowly fast vp & doun a1568 Ib. 18.
At his plaid nuk the guly fell out 1582 Calderwood III. 622.
In his sermoun he inveyghed against the bloodie guillie (so he termed it) of absolute authoritie 1590 Criminal Trials I. ii. 211.
Satan … poyntit the graues … , qulhilk wer opnit … , the wemen demembrit the deid corps and bodeis being thairin, with thair gulleis1653 Urquhart Rabelais i. xxvii.
Can you tell with what instruments they did it? with faire gullies [F. gouetz] 1665 Lauder Journal 68.
Poor fellows … with hurle barrows in which they carrie their sharping stone to sharp axes or gullies
