▪ I. hooly, huly, adv. and a. Sc. and north.
(ˈhuːlɪ, Sc. ˈh{smY}lɪ)
Also 4 holy, 6 hulie, hully, 7 hewly.
[ME. hōly, app. of Norse origin: cf. ON. hófligr moderate, hófliga with moderation, fitly, justly, f. hóf measure, moderation, hove n.2; also, ON. hógligr adj. easy, gentle, hógliga adv. gently, calmly, meekly, fitly, f. hóg- in comb. easy, gentle, soft.]
A. adv. Gently, softly, cautiously; tardily. Often in phr. hooly and fairly.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter xxxix. 24 My god cum not holy [Vulg. ne tardaveris]. Ibid., God come ouer huly til oure bihofe. 1513 Douglas æneis vi. v. 127 Huly and fair on to the cost I swam. 1598 Ferguson Scott. Prov. (1785) 13 (Jam.) Hooly and fairly men ride far journies. 1728 Ramsay To R. Yarde 114 Yet love is kittle and unruly, And shou'd move tentily and hooly. 1827 Scott Jrnl. 10 June, Cash difficulties, etc. all provided for..so that we go on hooly and fairly. 1830 Galt Lawrie T. vi. i. (1849) 253 ‘Hooly, hooly, Mr. Bradshaw’, cried I. |
B. adj. Gentle, cautious; slow, tardy.
| 1513 Douglas æneis ix. xiii. 45 Turnus..Steppys abak wyth huly pays full styll. 1597 Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 1283 Fulis hast cums huly speid. a 1810 Tannahill Poet. Wks. (1846) 55 In judging, let us be right hooly. |
Hence ˈhooliness, ˈhuliness, tardiness, delay.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter xxxix. 24 Þat hulynes þat he will not bifell. 1820 Edin. Mag. May 422/2 The trauchl't stag i' the wan waves lap, But huliness or hune. |
▪ II. hooly
obs. f. wholly.