Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1767-1928
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BRAWLY, BRAWLIE, Brawlies, Brawlis, Braaly, Bra'ly, adv. and pred. adj. Also browlie, browlies (Bnff.2, Abd.2 1936). [′brɑ:lɪ̢(z) Sc., but em. and wm.Sc. + ′br:l(z)]
1. adv.
(1) Very well, finely, thoroughly, excellently. Gen.Sc.Sh. 1928 T. Shewan in Sh. Almanac 189:
Dir baith braaly ill, as far as I tink.ne.Sc. 1874 W. Gregor Echo of Olden Time 78:
"Weel, faht did he say?" "Said? Brawlies div a ken faht he said."Mry. 1899 J. Simpson Peat Futherer in Northern Scot (Christmas Number):
An' blithe would she nicker gweed e'en to her fellows, For browlie she kent a' the horsies o' Kellas.Abd.(D) 1767 R. Forbes Jnl. from London, etc. (1869) 14:
We came browlies o' the rod, till we came within a mile of Godlamin.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 52:
Stoupfu's of crouds an' ream she aft wad steal, An' bra'ly cud her tricks frae minny heal.Lnl. 1890 A. M. Bisset Spring Blossoms 12:
For brawly kens the kindly dame Her favours we are needin'.Arg. 1880 Stray Leaves 35 (per Arg.1):
Confound your proofs: what need o' sic a fuss? The thing, ye see, is brawlis kent by us.Ayr. 1791 Burns Tam o' Shanter (Cent. ed.) l. 163:
But Tam kend what was what fu' brawlie.
(2) "Fairly" (Edb.1 1935). Cf. bravely s.v. Brave, adj.Sh. 1926–1928 J.G. Lowrie an' da wadder Forecast in Shet. Times:
Brawly close ta da mune.
2. pred. adj. Well, in good health. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1825 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 54:
All's well — wool up — nowte on the rise — . . . bairns brawly, and Mistress bonnier than ever.Ags. 1822 A. Balfour Farmers' Three Daughters I. 102:
It was a daft like thing to make a bairn unwell, whan it was brawlie.
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"Brawly adv., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/brawly>
