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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

‡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.