▪ I. tewly, a. Now dial.
(ˈtjuːlɪ)
Forms: 6–7 tuly, 7 tuely, 8 tooly, 7, 9– tewly.
[Derivation uncertain: perh. from tew n.1 or v.1; but the early spellings tu-, too- do not favour this.]
Weak, sickly, delicate; poorly, unwell.
| 1538 Bale Temptacyon (1870) 14 Ye are but tuly, ye are no stronge persone doughtlesse. 1619 J. Dyke Caveat (1620) 32 Timothy was surely weake, and but a sickely, tuely man. 1691 Ray S. & E.C. Words, Tewly or tuly, tender, sick: tuly stomached, weak stomached. 1787 Grose Provinc. Gloss., Tooly, tender, sickly. A tooly man or woman. Hampsh. 1898 Longm. Mag. Nov. 50 His head's wise enough, if his body be tewly. |
▪ II. tewly
var. tuly a. Obs. (of silk).