A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1567-1596, 1648
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Gelly, Gellie, adj. [Of obscure origin. Cf. Jellie a.] Pleasant, attractive, nice. a1568 Scott ii. 182.
Than gelly Johine come in a jak To feild quhair he wes feidit 1573 Satirical Poems xli. 23.
He … was als meit for sic office As outher gellie Jok or Johne 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 6.
The maruelouse cumming heir of thir guide nyhboures myne Hes mouid me for to cum and see this gellie feast & fyne 1596 Misc. Spald. C. I. 89.
Thow said, this is ane gellie child, ane gey child 1648 Baillie III. 32.
Your nephew, I hope, shall prove a gelly ladd
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"Gelly adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/gelly_adj>
