Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Craftely, adv. Also: -lye, -lie, -lly, -llie; craftly, -lie; craiftelie. [ME. craftely (Chaucer), craftli (14th c.), OE. cræftlíce.]

1. Skilfully, cleverly.a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii. 353 (kistis, mad craftely). Ib. xli. 42 (has me arayt craftly). c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2850 (ane tunykle … of fisches maid craftely). a1500 Henr. Fab. 339 (scho … thair craftelie can hing). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 83 (full craftely conjurit scho the yarrow). 1513 Doug. x. v. 29 (craftely swymmys sche). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 127 (hir sark, begaryit all … richt craftelie). c1552 Id. Mon. 733. a1540 Freiris Berwik 13 (wallis wrocht craftely). a1578 Pitsc. I. 73/22 (Scottismen placed them selffis craftelie).

2. Cunningly, artfully, craftily. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 591–2.
That he that swerys craftely, Mansweris craftely for-thy c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 369.
I full craftely did keip thai courtly wedis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 115/30.
He behauit him self … sa craftelie that [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4399.
Thair successouris … Full craftelye clam to the heycht 1568 Buch. Indict. 33.
Sche begouth first craftelie … to mak ane dedlie hetrand betuix the King and the Lordis a1578 Pitsc. I. 16/20.
Scho verray craiftelie dissimbled that sho come to intercommon with the nobillis Ib. 20/17.
Persaueand himsellffe sa … craftelie disawit be his foes c1650 Spalding II. 144.
Then craftellie commissioneris war chosin betuixt the King and the Scottis