Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BURLY, adj. [′bʌrlɪ̢]
1. Rough (Sc. 1825 Jam.2; Abd.2 1937).Abd. [1844] W. Thom Rhymes and Recoll. (1849) 72:
The feast o' yestreen how it oozes through, In bell an' blab on his burly brow.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie's Wallet x.:
Thy wee roun' pate, sae black and curly, Thy twa bare feet, sae stoure an' burly.
†2. Tumultuous; hard-fought.Bnff. 1851 Bnffsh. Jnl. (9 Sept.):
Gude Glengerrock's trusty blade, That red the bludy fray, I' the auld kirkyard near Isla's bed, On the burly battle day.
3. Combs.: (1) burly-headit, “having a rough appearance; as, ‘a burly-headit fallow'” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2; 1923 Watson W.-B. Add.); †(2) burly-twine, “a kind of strong coarse twine, somewhat thicker than packthread” (Mearns Jam.2).
[O.Sc. burely, burly, sturdy, strong, from c.1400 (D.O.S.T.).]
