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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wer(e)ly(e, Weirly, -ie, Warly, -ie, adj. and adv. Also: werelie, weyrly, weer(e)ly, uarrelie. [ME and e.m.E. werly (c1400), warrely (1457), werrely, warly (both c1475), weerly (?c1507).]

A. adj.1. a. = Wer(e)lik(e adj. 1 a. b. = Wer(e)lik(e adj. 1 b.a. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 155.
The werely porpapyne 1513 Doug. iii i 27.
Thar lyis a weirly [Ruddim. werlye] cuntre weil far thens … Of Trace … Quhar that vmquhile strang Lycurgus was kyng 1596 Dalr. I 14/11.
Abone Galloway is Silurie sum tyme a weirlie peple as evin ȝit it is 1596 Dalr. I 86/28.
Thay war a people baith ciuile & weirlie 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 193/751.
Then go ye runn o uarrelie [1591 warlike] youth, quhom no distres can dauntb. 1513 Doug. ix viii 105.
The trumpettis weirly blastis … With terribill brag of brasyn bludy soundis 1513 Doug. xii v 113.
Sa fast Towartis his fais … dyd cast A weirly dart a1568 Bell. in Bann. MS 7b/262.
The weirly deidis sprang In Troy and Grece 1568 Reg. Privy S. VI 62/1.
The conspiratouris quhilkis laitlie assemblit and convenit thame selffis in weirlie maner … and tressonabillie invadit [etc.] 1587-99 Hume 54/57.
Mak shouting shalms … Cause mightily the weirly notis breik

2. a. = Wer(e)lik(e adj. 2 b. See also Ordinance n. 4 b for further examples. Also fig.b. = Wer(e)lik(e adj. 2 c. c. = Wer(e)lik(e adj. 2 d. d. Of affairs: Pertaining to war.a. 1494 Loutfut MS 152b.
Werely weidis 1513 Doug. xi i 35.
The spulȝe and first weirly weid Reft from the prowd kyng 1513 Doug. xi ii 77.
Aethon, hys werly steid, Dispulȝeit of hys harnessyng 1531 Bell. Boece I 34.
The kingis armis; … ane scherand sword, with septoure, crown, and tressour, in maner of ane weirly trinsche, for defence of his realme … and punition of transgressouris 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 36.
Weerly 1531 Bell. Boece I 69.
He counsalit him … to irk of na chargis pertening to weirly ordinance c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 22.
Of squyeris douchtie deidis, That wounders wrocht in weirlie weidis 1561 Reg. Privy S. V i 211/2.
Makand him secund persone of hir graces artailyerie, munitionis and weirly armour 1596 Dalr. I 72/30.
That thair weirlie armies, in tyme of neid, thay sulde ioyne with him against al ennimiesfig. 1567 G. Ball. 107.
His wingis ar thy weirlie [D. weerely] weid, His pennis ar thy strang defenceb. 1513 Doug. ix xi 9.
In bos helmys and scheldis the weirly [Sm. weyrly] schote Maid rap for rap 1533 Boece 126a.
The last myschance happynnyt be inaduertence of werelie discipline 1533 Boece 164b.
Werelie vassalage and fortitude a1585 Maitl. Q. 229/106.
Wald ȝe esteme thame be thair crakis Thay wer Cæsar in weirlie actis 1592 Digest Justiciary Proc. P 18.
Johne Dowglas & mony mor … bodin in weirlie maner incontrair the tenour of the actis of parliamentc. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 493.
‘Yone is the warliest wane,’ said the wise king, ‘That euer I vist in my walk’d. 1533 Bell. Livy I 119/14.
The pepill war … thirllit and occupyt be him als weill in werely besines as policye 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 8.
In sic weirly affairis all thingis cannot ever be sa weill foirsene a1578 Pitsc. I 72/23.
Magnus Reid … thairthrow had so great knawledge and experience of the same weiris and weirlie effairis

B. adv.a. In a warlike, martial manner. b. In a manner suitable for war. c. = Wer(e)lik(e adv.a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 201 (B).
Thik was the schott of grundin arrowis … Bot ressoun with the scheild of gold … Weirly [Ch. & M. Warly, M. Warlie] defendit quho soevir assayit 1531 Bell. Boece II 460.
This army come sa warly throw the watter of Sulway, that thay come to Cokirmouth … and abaid thair thre days invading the cuntre with gret cruelteisb. 1513 Doug. xii xi 132.
Batelling weirly bet 1513 Doug. xiii iv 103.
This cite … with wallis and towris hie … Stud weirly [Ruddim. werelye] wrochtc. a1585 Maitl. Q. 201/13.
The thundring doun of cannounis warlie wrocht As did appeir maid hevin and erthe to schaik