Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1719-1956
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GULLIE, n., v. Also gull(e)y, guil(l)ie, -y, †gooly, -ie, †gulle; ¶gulzie (Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 58); ¶gillie (Dmf. 1850 Carlyle New Letters (1904) II. 102). [′gʌle]
I. n. 1. A large knife, often one blunted by use. Gen.Sc. Also occas. a butcher's knife (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Ork. 1955), or applied to a large pocket clasp-knife (Fif. 1955) or as a derisory name for a butcher's boy (Patterson). Sometimes attrib. with knife. Rarely, by extension, a sword. Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1719 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 131:
That Bang'ster Billy Cæsar July, . . . Had better sped, had he . . . . . . 'midst his Glories sheath'd his Gooly, And kiss'd his Wife.Sc. 1727 P. Walker Remark. Passages 45:
Their heads and hands were hashed and hagged off by the common hangman with his bloody gully.Sc. 1733 Orpheus Caled. (Thomson) II. 100:
A Gullie-knife, and a Horse-wand, A Mitten for the Left-hand.Ayr. 1787 Burns Death and Dr Hornbook ix.:
I red ye weel, take care o' skaith, See, there's a gully!Abd. c.1803 D. Anderson Sawney and John Bull 21:
Whan he drew his twa edg'd gullie, To snap aff heads o' English bodies As we wou'd di a carl dodies.Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 65:
Gif by misfortune's gully knife Ane's mulkit sair.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xvii.:
Folk kill . . . wi' the word as weel as wi' the gulley.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin vi.:
"Gie yer aith then that ye winna stick me wi' that gully I heard ye sharpin'," quoth Willie.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxvii.:
The cutler, in Gallowgate, who . . . was unequalled in the production of a reliable pocket "gullie."Sc. 1883 Stevenson Treasure Island iv.:
His gully with the crooked handle, a pocket compass, and a tinder box, were all they contained.Ags. 1888 Barrie Auld Licht Idylls ii.:
The spears were in many cases "gully-knives," fastened to staves with twine and resin, called "rozet."Ork. 1905 Dennison Wedding Customs 31:
Each man then drew from a sheath at his side his large knife, called a gully. Each gentleman had to carve for his lady partner, . . . and for himself.Sc. 1931 J. Lorimer Red Sergeant xvi.:
May ma throat be cuttit by my grandda's gully there, as I've sworn on't, if I dinna haud by ma bargain.Edb. 1956:
After a schoolboy fight the victor will thump the vanquished on the shoulder with his fist and cry: "There's the gully, there's the knife; I can fight ye aw my life."
2. Phrs. & Combs.: (1) a burn-the-gully, an unskilful, incompetent workman (Uls.3 1930); (2) butching gullie, "a large knife used for butchering pigs" (Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 77); (3) fir gullie, see Fir; (4) gully-cut, to cut or hack with a knife; (5) hash gulle, see Hash; (6) kail-gully, see Kail; (7) to guide the gully, lit. to control the knife, hence fig. to control, manage things in general, used proverbially of the Deity; (8) to haud the gullie ower the dyke (to someane), to stand up for oneself, to maintain one's position or opinion against opposition (Ags. 1955).(4) wm.Sc.1 1910:
It's no tae rug, rive, or gullycut; said of something tough and resistant to any attempt to divide it.(7) Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 292:
Sticking goes not by Strength, but by guiding of the Gooly. Matters are carried on rather by Art than Strength.Sc. 1727 P. Walker Remark. Passages 20:
He is above that guides the Gully, my God will not let you either kill me or banish me.n.Sc. 1737 W. Fraser Chiefs of Grant (1883) II. 350:
He sits abun the lift that guides the gully.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 38:
It will tak' wit To guide the gullie through this kittle bit.Sc. 1891 R. Ford Thistledown (1895) 15:
Sin' Ye hae baith the heft and the blade in Yer nain hand, just guide the gully as best suits her guid and Yer nain glory. Amen.Rxb. 1919 Kelso Chron. (22 Aug.) 2:
Nannie would remonstrate: "De'il a fear, Nan; there's a Hand abune that guides the gully."(8) Ags. 1864 D. Allan Hist. Sk. 37:
Gin thae cross-grained wiever bodies get time to muster thir forces, we may e'en find the gully hauden owre the dyke on's.Ags. 1872 J. Kennedy Jock Craufurt 44:
Noo lat them come as fast's they like, You'll haud the gully owre the dyke To them.Ags. 1892 Brechin Advertiser (26 April) 3:
But in that respeck the City can haud the gullie ower the dyke to them.
II. v. To cut, knife, slash, wield a knife.Dmb. 1817 J. Walker Poems 97:
It's nae gude trade to gully fowk.Per. a.1869 C. Spence Poems (1898) 90:
A fellow's purse I never spulye, A human throat I never gully.Wgt. 1884 D. McWhirter Ploughboy's Musings 77:
. . . oor Hallowe'en. Then roon the pot the young anes cramnmed, They champit an' they gullie't, Grapplin' for the coin.
