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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.

GULLY, adj., n.2 Also gullie, -o(w), gul; gillie, -y, -o(o), -ow; gulbow (Ork. 1825 Jam.) is a misprint. [′gʌli, ′gɪli, -o (fem.)]

I. adj. Good, pleasant, agreeable, gen. used of persons (Ork. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XV. 96, gully).Ork. 1911 Old-Lore Misc. IV. iv. 186:
An' he was as gully a body as could live; an' at da Straits he was a' da boys' freen.
Ork. 1929 Marw.:
A gully ting o' a bairn.
Ib. s.v. berry:
He had left her husband fishing on a rock called “Tangie”; then, continuing, he said: “Tangie's a gully berry; hid'll hurt naething”; i.e. Tangie is a safe place.

II. n. A familiar term of address among friends of both sexes (Ork. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XV. 96, gul, 1911 Old-Lore Misc. IV. ii. 68, gully, -oo, 1929 Marw., gullie, -o(w), gill-, Ork.5 1955, gulloo).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 132:
Bit are th'u hurt thee, Paety, gilly?
Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Whare thoo gaan the day, gillie?

[Of Norw. orig. Cf. Norw. dial.gjøle, gilde, excellent, admirable, fine, as in gjøle mann, gilde barn; gjøla, something splendid, gild, valuable, first-rate (see Gild).]

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"Gully adj., n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 25 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gully_adj_n2>

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