Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†UNSEELY, adj. Also unseally, oonseely.
1. Of times, conditions, etc.: characterized by danger or misfortune, unhappy, unseasonable; “unholy”, “ungodly”. See seely, Seil, n.Abd. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads II. 11:
There fell a-rousing them amang, On an unseally time.Abd. 1891 Trans. Bch. Field Club II. 15:
He had to get up in “the onseely 'oors o' the nicht” to go to sea.
2. Of animals: mischievous, evil-doing, ill-conditioned. Cf. Unsell, n.Mry. 1804 R. Couper Poetry II. 84:
My bacon ham, my table's pride The unseely tyke has ta'en.
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"Unseely adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/unseely>
