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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1908-1929

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COORLY, Kooerly, adj.

1. Cowardly, timid.Ork.(D) 1908 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. I. viii. 322:
Jock o' the Geo waas a trowie coorly ting.Ork. 1929 Marw. s.v. kolo:
Kooerly, kooerly — claa me nail, I'm a man, but thoo're a snail.

2. Miserly, stingy.Ork. 1929 Marw. s.v. kokk:
Kooerly, kooerly — kokk-a-pen, Gae a gift, an' sought again.

[Origin uncertain. Perhaps from cooardly (see Cooard) with d dropped in rapid speech, or perhaps from Coor, v.1, to cringe (cf. coory s.v.).]

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