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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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

Manly, -lie, -lé, a. Also: mandly. Compar. manlyar, superl. manlyast, -est. [ME. manli (c 1350), manely: cf. Manlik.]

1. Pertaining to human nature or to mankind, human. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 422.
So in thair kynd gois manly successioun, Now seike, now hale [etc.] Ib. 1098.
This was cheif way … That couth be seyne for manly saluacioun Ib. 738. 1492 Myll Spect. 278/3. ? 15.. Dunb. To London 14.
For manly power, with craftis naturall, Fourmeth none fairer 1533 Boece ix. viii. 304 b.
On force all manly affaris ar mortall 1551 Hamilton Cat. 164.
That He in His manly nature mycht pray for us 1554 Knox III. 128. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 11/9.
Without eloquence or manly persuasion Ib. II. 22/9.
Quhen for the heuinlie doctrine manlie superstitioun is introducit Ib. 30/2; etc. 1581 Burne Disput. 37. a1651 Calderwood IV. 235.
It is manlie and of weakenesse to fall 1622-6 Bisset I. 83/2.

2. Having the virtues proper to a man, as courage or valiance, sturdiness, independence of spirit, openness, uprightness. Also said of the personal attributes.(a) 1391 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 379.
Jone of Forbesis fadre was … wise mychty and manly in his tyme a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 685. c1420 Wynt. v. 5566.
Off were a manly man and wycht And lycht off all condytyowne Ib. vii. 621, viii. 2026. ?1438 Alex. ii. 1828. c1475 Wall. iv. 41.
Wallace … spak to thaim with manly contenance Ib. viii. 480.
As manly Ectour a1500 Rauf C. 484, etc. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 352.
I maid that wif carll to werk all womenis werkis And laid all manly materis and mensk in this eird 1513 Doug. ix. v. 59. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 4/2.
Of awfull batallis … The wise array, the manlie ieoperdie 1535 Stewart 51832.
[A chair] Quhairin he sat with manlie lauchand cheir a1538 Abell 94 b.
Robert Brus manlie man 15.. Christis Kirk 171 (B).
The millar wes of manly mak, To meit him wes na mowis 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 113.
He is bath throw and manle and well kyp that he promissis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6227, etc. 1572 Sempill Sat. P. xxx. 68.
In thé was manly mowis and marynes Ib. 106.
The manly Methwen a1578 Pitsc. I. 106 n. 4. Ib. 243/17.(b) c1475 Wall. vi. 785.
He was rycht fair and weill farrand, Mandly and stoutcompar. and superl. ?1438 Alex. i. 1102.
Thair was … Na manlyar knicht in na cuntre c1475 Wall. xi. 616.
The manlyast man, the starkast off persoun a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 457.
The manlyest on mold