Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NAMELY, adj., adv. Sc. usages:

I. adj. Noted, noteworthy, famed for some attribute or accomplishment, of good repute (Arg. 1896 N. Munro Lost Pibroch 8; Lth. 1949 Scots Mag. (June) 171; Per., Arg., Ayr. 1963).Sc. 1815 C. I. Johnstone Clan Albin I. xiv.:
Sky was always namely for witches.Arg. 1896 N. Munro Lost Pibroch 8:
Paruig Dall, who is namely for music.w.Sc. 1917 H. Foulis Jimmy Swan 288:
The biggest, brawest, nameliest lavatory in Europe.Fif. 1926 I. Farquhar Pickletillie 66:
“The Twelfth doesna bother hiz,” rejoined the farmer, “but if ye say it's namely for rain, gamie, we'll allow ye to ken.”Mry. 1936 I. Cameron Street of Spinners xxv.:
She was a namely one for spinning.Sc. 1953 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 149:
He would need to . . . go into bankruptcy maybe, with all the misery and shame that would be for a decent namely family.

Hence ¶nameliheid, fame, reputation, glory.Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms viii. 1:
O Lord, . . . wha setten haist thy nameliheid abune the hevins.

II. adv. Particularly, especially. Obs. in Eng. since 17th c.Ags. 1825 J. Stirton Thrums (1896) 64:
It turned out for to be a very bad crope namely in the heed of the countray.