Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1818-1925, 1993
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‡ELY, v. Also eelie, ellie, ail(l)ie, yellie, yillie (Watson). Gen. with away. [′ili]
1. To disappear, vanish from sight gradually (Rxb., Slk. 1825 Jam.2; Dmf. 1894 J. Shaw in Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 146, ely, ailie).Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck II. 36:
It elyed away o'er the brow, an' I saw nae mair o't.Sc. 1824 R. Chambers Poet. Remains (1883) 20:
Just like the auld moon when she eelies away.Bwk. 1876 W. Brockie Confessional 180:
An' what comes o't I fain wad ken? It elies a', the dear kens where.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 17:
A pewl o reek . . . swurlt an yilleet away in a pirlin braith o wund.Sc. 1993 J. Derrick McClure in A. L. Kennedy and Hamish Whyte New Writing Scotland 11: The Ghost of Liberace 67:
When ye stuid up for the Question the lang daises eeliet out o sicht,
2. “To drop off one by one, as a company does that disperses imperceptibly” (Rxb., Slk. 1825 Jam.2).Slk. 1832 Hogg Queer Book 187:
The bairnies had elyit away.s.Sc. 1857 H. S. Riddell Psalms xviii. 15:
The strangirs sall eelie awa, an' be afeaeret owt o' thair clos pleces.Rxb. 1868 D. Anderson Musings 6:
Now this is the fashion; they thus pass the day, Till night comes at last and they ellie away.
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"Ely v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ely>
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