burely
Middle English
Alternative forms
- borly, borely, borelych, borlych, burlich, borlich, borlic, burly, borlyche, bourly, burliche, burlyche, bureliche, borli, burli
Etymology
Unknown. Likely from Old English *borlīċ, attested adverbially in Old English borlīċe (“eminently, excellently, well”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈburliː/, /ˈburliːtʃ/
Adjective
burely (superlative borliest)
- Outstanding, attractive, good-looking, fair, pleasing.
- Tough, mighty, imposing, stour.
Descendants
- English: burly
- Scots: buirdly (possibly); burely
References
- “borlī(ch (adj.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-23.