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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BRAWLY, BRAWLIE, Brawlies, Brawlis, Braaly, Bra'ly, adv. and pred. adj. [′brɑ:lɪ̢(z) Sc., but em. and wm.Sc. + ′br:l(z)]

1. adv.

(1) Very well, thoroughly, excellently. Gen.Sc.Sh. 1928 T. Shewan in Sh. Almanac 189:
Dir baith braaly ill, as far as I tink.ne.Sc. 1874 W. Gregor Echo of Olden Time 78:
“Weel, faht did he say?” “Said? Brawlies div a ken faht he said.”Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 52:
Stoupfu's of crouds an' ream she aft wad steal, An' bra'ly cud her tricks frae minny heal.Lnl. 1890 A. M. Bisset Spring Blossoms 12:
For brawly kens the kindly dame Her favours we are needin'.Arg. 1880 Stray Leaves 35 (per Arg.¹):
Confound your proofs: what need o' sic a fuss? The thing, ye see, is brawlis kent by us.Ayr. 1791 Burns Tam o' Shanter (Cent. ed.) l. 163:
But Tam kend what was what fu' brawlie.

(2) “Fairly” (Edb.¹ 1935). Cf. bravely s.v. Brave, adj.Sh. 1926–1928 J.G. Lowrie an' da wadder Forecast in Shet. Times:
Brawly close ta da mune.

2. pred. adj. Well, in good health. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1825 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 54:
All's well — wool up — nowte on the rise — . . . bairns brawly, and Mistress bonnier than ever.Ags. 1822 A. Balfour Farmers' Three Daughters I. 102:
It was a daft like thing to make a bairn unwell, whan it was brawlie.