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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JELLIE, adj. Also jelly, gelly, jealy, jeely. The last is doubtful.

1. Of persons: upright, honest, worthy, honourable, having integrity (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.); pleasant, agreeable. Used ironically in Arg. 1914 quot.Sc. 1783 Gil Brenton in Child Ballads No. 5 A. li.:
I had na pu'd a flowr but ane, Till by there came a jelly hind greeme.Mry. 1810 J. Cock Simple Strains 106:
By chance came in a jelly tanner; His braw address an' gentle manner Spak' him nae blate.Ags. 1856 Brechin Advertiser (29 Jan.) 3:
Weel do I ken An'ra Gray o' Whistlecraft, a dainty jealy man.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xl.:
An aunt o' the bride's was there to welcome the fowk: a richt jellie wife in a close mutch, but unco braid spoken.Arg. 1914 N. Munro New Road ii.:
A bonny pair ye are — the jeely man, for Aeneas! — keepin' me in the dark about the cairry-ons wi' silly glaikit lassies!

2. Of things: pleasant, agreeable, fine, imposing; “excellent, in its kind” (Mry. 1808 Jam.). Hence adv. jellily, merrily (Ib.).Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 136:
A jelly Sum to carry on A Fishery's design'd.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 180:
To the west, thy gelly mouth [a door] Stood wide to a'.Mry. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads I. 189:
And jellily dance the damsels, Blythe-blinkin' in your ee.