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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SLEE, adj., adv., v. Also slie (Kcd. 1797 R. Buchanan Poems 297); ¶slay (w.Lth. 1908 J. White Pen Sketches 15); sley. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. sly (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Uls. 1929; Rxb. 1942 Zai., Rxb. 1970). Now chiefly poet. in this form exc. in s.Sc. [sli:]

I. adj. 1. As in Eng., also adv. Derivs, sleelie, -y, adv., slyly, cunningly, craftily (Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 45; e.Lth. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-head 264); slylins. adv., id. (Abd. 1868 W. Shelley Flowers 275). See -Lins, suff.; sleeness, n., slyness, cunning (Sc. 1892 Stevenson Catriona viii.). Comb. slee-gabbit, adj., smooth-spoken, oily, wily and persuasive in speech. See also Gab, n.Sc. c.1700 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) II. 134:
His titty she was baith wylie and slee, She spy'd me as I came o'er the lee.Rxb. c.1734 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (1913) 56:
O death! thou wreck of young and auld, How slie, and O how dreadfu' bald!Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 505:
To see The cleverest callant that was there Play himsell sic a slee Begeck that day.Ayr. 1786 Burns To James Smith i.:
Dear Smith, the slee'st, pawkie thief.Slk. 1822 Hogg Tales (1874) 627:
Haud your tongue, ye slee-gabbit limb o' the auld ane.Lnk. 1838 J. Morrison McIlwham Papers 13:
Sometimes I thocht he was takin a slee sklent at anither body.Sc. 1875 A. Hislop Anecdotes 238:
Ah, he's been a slee lad, the minister.Hdg. 1908 J. Lumsden Th' Loudons 220:
Had “Samil” been slee he'd hae hechtit thee less.Kcb. 1911 G. M. Gordon Auld Clay Biggin' 27:
The slee limmer had taen the opportunity til gae thro' his pockets.Sc. 1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' Ling 32:
I saw nae tod, Swippert an' slee.

2. Of persons: skilled, deft, clever, wise. Obs. in Eng. exc. n. dial. Hence sleely, cleverly, skilfully.Edb. 1772 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 38–9:
Sae bonnily she wont to sing And sleely wake the sleeping string . . . Wi' sic a slee and pawky art.Ayr. 1785 Burns Ep. to J. Lapraik xiv.:
O for a spunk o' Allan's glee, Or Fergusson's, the bauld and slee.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 94:
He a skep Cou'd paise and sleely han'le.Slg. 1932 W. D. Cocker Poems 164:
Wi' a' my fisherman's skill, sae slee, For weeks I spun my web.

3. Of things: well-made, carefully put together, showing the skill of their creator or user, excellent of their kind. Obs. in Eng. in 16th c.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 226:
Comick Tale, and Sonnet slee.Rnf. 1815 W. Finlayson Rhymes 46:
A furthy turn, a slee enticing chat.Crm. 1829 H. Miller Poems 79:
Right bauld an' slee were Fergie's lays.Ags. 1874 C. Sievwright Love Lilts 51:
Strike his slee harp in the Howe o' Stra'more.Sc. 1925 H. M'Diarmid Sangschaw 13:
A slee and sliggy sang Wi' mony a whuram.

4. Of times or places: hidden, secret, quiet, unobtrusive. Rare or obs. in Eng.Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Miller vi.:
In ilka slee corner an' sheltered nook.Hdg. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-Head 73:
Till, some slee day, Death ca's to say, “Your final flittin' now mak'!”

II. adv. In a sly manner, cunningly, with guile, quietly, stealthily. Obs. in Eng. Comb. slee-nested, of a bird: having its nest well hidden (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).Sc. 1802 Katharine Jaffray in Child Ballads No. 221. C. vii.:
Up then spak Lord Faughanwood, An he spak very slee.m.Lth. 1811 H. MacNeill Bygane Times 35:
Ye need na fash, quo I, right slee.Sc. 1854 D. Vedder Poems 65:
The lasses leugh i' their sleeves sae slee.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Underwoods 93:
Auld voices fa'in saft and slee On fancy's ear.Fif. 1894 J. Menzies Our Town 181:
You would sometimes think it was human, it would look sae slee at ye oot o' the corner o' its e'e.

III. v. 1. tr. To make off with in an underhand way, to purloin craftily, “spirit away” (Abd. 1825 Jam.). Also with awa.Bnff. 1825 Jam.:
“What's come o' the buke I gae you?” “Tam has sleed it awa frae me.”

2. (1) intr. or absol. To go or come silently and slyly (Abd. 1825 Jam., sly); with awa: to slip out of the way unobtrusively, sneak off (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., sly); to avoid a task, to dodge (Lnk. 1825 Jam.); to alter course, of a ship.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shep. MS. 74:
Till ae unlucky day young Rony slyd, Into his sister's chamber as she read.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 202:
Shü cam right in, till every thing Apo her deck shew plen; Dan sley'd an dipped her boannie flag, An aff ta sea agen.

(2) with at: to peer at out of the corner of the eye, take a hasty or covert glance at (Abd. 1825 Jam.).