Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721, 1779-1911
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CULYIE, CULZIE, CULLIE, Cully, Cullye, Coolye, Kujli, Kilie, Køl(l)i, Kjöllie, Cweelie, v. and n. [′kylji Lth. (E.E.P. V.); ′kulji, ′k(j)øli Sh.; ′k(w)ili Mry.]
1. v.
(1) To fondle, cherish (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), køl(l)i; Mry.1 1925, cullie), to make up (to), make much of. Often used with aboot in Sh.Sh.(D) 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 34:
Maikie cam close up till her, an' cüllied aboot her.Sh. 1897 Shet. News (2 Oct.):
Doo'll hae ta kjöllie aboot Sibbie, an' doo'll mebbe get her ta geng i' da lempit ebb.Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Sketch Bk. 142:
I hae no' time tae cullye grief.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 3:
That in his cave the lee day lang, Sat culyieing thee beside the shore.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 94:
Gude sooth! gin ance ye're culliet there, To manlie sense An' dignitie, for ever mair, Quite a pretence!
(2) To coax, to appease (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., kujli), to wheedle, entice; vbl.n. culyiean, "the act of flattering; the act of wheedling" (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 34).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 273:
O'er narrow counting Culzies no Kindness.Cai. 1911 John o' Groat Jnl. (14 July):
"He wid coolye 'e egg frae a craw," the crow being considered a difficult bird to trick in any way.Hdg. 1902 J. Lumsden Toorle, etc. 270:
Mistress Creashem culyied ye aff hame Afore the bile got back intil yer wame!Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 142:
I true that culli'd him hither ay the mair.
Phrs.: (1) to cweelie aff, kilie —, to wheedle out of (Mry.1 1925); (2) to cully in with one, "to attempt to gain one's affection by wheedling; to curry favour" (Sc. 1883 Cassell's Encycl. Dict.).
†2. n.
(1) "Flattery, wheedling" (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 34, culyie).
(2) "A flatterer" (Ib.).
[O.Sc. has culze, cuilze, cuillie, to caress, fondle, from 1438; to cherish, to treat kindly, from 1513; to receive or entertain kindly, from 1568; to acquire or maintain by friendliness, 1641 (D.O.S.T.). The form suggests a connection with Fr. cueillir, to gather, cf. accueillir, to welcome.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Culyie v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/culyie>
