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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SHUIRLY, adv., n. Also shurely (Sc. 1887 Stevenson Underwoods 111, 1931 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 255), shörly (Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (Aagust 11)), shourly (Ork. 1786 Ork. Miscell. II. 42); shurly (Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. 24), ¶surly, seurly (Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 15), shairly (Lnk. 1895 A. M'Lean Musings 20; Rxb. 1923 Hawick Express (14 Dec.) 3; m.Sc. 1950 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 283); shairlie; seerly (ne.Sc. 1836 J. Grant Tales 31; Abd. 1928 P. Grey Making of a King 65), serely (Abd. 1867 A. Allardyce Goodwife 13, 1878 J. C. Hutchison Village Voices 166), sheer(e)ly (Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 36, 379). Sc. forms and usage of Eng. surely. See Shuir. Sc. n. usage: a certainty, an actual fact.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 243:
Some of the uncos I am now trying to recall may be surlies too.Ork. 1969:
An awfu night and shuirly (= and no mistake).wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 16:
Whit urr you daein' here?
Nosy bitch to spy on us like that.
D'you no hear 'bout curiosity an' the cat?
It must be just a kid-oan, shairly? m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 47:
An aw the weemin in yir companie,
bi yir ain luve are thay made lusum tae:
sae nou I ask thaim o thair courtasie
wha best is able, lat hir honour dae
an dearlie haud yir rule in majestie,
syne bi yir bewtie, that ye shairlie hae. Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 15:
Something dairkly yet
shudders alow shairly, an' heavin up? Slk. 1991 Harvey Holton in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 134:
Shairly he'll share his solemn sworn secrets
fur speir him oo sall gin awe the wild weather
ats workit oor wie. m.Sc. 1998 Ian Cameron The Jimmy Shand Story 124:
'A wee bit nothing! It suits ye just grand. What else would ye wear? A' the men'll be dressed the same, ye wouldna like tae stand oot different, shairly?' Anne said. em.Sc. 1999 James Robertson The Day O Judgement 7:
Heize up ma yirdfast thochts, O God,
Lowse the tung in ma mooth o clay,
Tae tell, as shairly I am bund,
The dreid an glory o thy Day.