▪ I. gleg, n. Obs. exc. north.
(glɛg)
[f. gleg v.]
A side-glance, sly look; also simply, a look.
| a 1650 In a May morning 15 in Furniv. Percy Folio (1867) IV. 74 Euerye one that comes by shall haue a glegge ont. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. II. 65 Searching with minutest gleg, Oft I've seen [etc.]. 1877 Holderness Gloss., Gleg, a sly glance. |
▪ II. gleg, a. north. and Sc.
(glɛg)
[a. ON. glegg-r, gloggr, glǫggr clear, clear-sighted = Goth. *glaggwu-s (cf. the adv. glaggwuba carefully):—OTeut. *glawwu-, whence also OHG. glau, klau, OS. glau, OE. gléaw wise, clever, glew a. (cf. ON. dǫgg = dew n., hǫggva = hew v.).]
1. Quick in perception by any of the senses; esp. quick-eyed, sharp-sighted. Chiefly with defining phrase, as gleg of the eye, gleg of touch.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 13448 Es na foȝl [MS. foxl] sa gleg of ei [as the eagle]. a 1449 W. Bower in Fordun's Scotichron. (1759) II. 376 Wyth prik ȝoukand eeris, as the awsk gleg. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. p. xlv, Thir mussillis ar sa doyn gleg of twiche and hering that [etc.]. 1808–80 Jamieson, Gleg of the ee, sharp-sighted. ‘Gleg o' the glour,’ Loth. 1858 M. Porteous Souter Johnny 11 He was..As gleg's a hawk. |
b. Of the eye: Quick, sharp.
| 1755 R. Forbes Ajax's Sp. 17 The gods tho look on mortal men, Wi' eyn baith just and gleg. 1795 Burns ‘I see a form’ 15 Gleg as light are lover's een. 1837 R. Nicoll Poems (1842) 138 I've glour'd at her aft wi' a gleg e'e. |
2. Quick in action or movement; sharp, smart. gleg at, quick or clever at (doing something); gleg at (of) the uptake, quick in understanding a thing; gleg at or gleg with, quick or clever in using.
| 1755 Ramsay Let. to Jas. Clerk. 46 When interest points, he's gleg and gare, And will at naithing stop or stand. a 1774 Fergusson Wks. (1807) 227 He's a man weel versed in a' the laws..And ay right gleg..At sattlin' o' a nice or kittle point. 1814 Scott Wav. xlii, He's gleg aneuch at the broadsword and target. 1816 ― Old Mort. vii, Everybody's no sae gleg at the uptake as ye are yoursell, mither. 1821 Galt Ayrsh. Legatees x. 286 The drivers were so gleg and impudent, that it was worse than martyrdom to come with them. 1844 W. H. Maxwell Sports & Adv. Scotl. ix. (1855) 94 He was ower gleg in the tongue for ye. 1876 Whitby Gloss. s.v., ‘Quite gleg at it’, quick at comprehending it. ‘Gleg at walking’. ‘Gleg at eating’. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xx, Ye're no very gleg at the jumping. 1894 Crockett Raiders (ed. 3) 72 Gleg wi' the knife as a souter wi' his elshin. |
3. Sprightly, lively, cheery.
| 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. ix, The body..looking unco gleg and canty, she didna ken what he might be coming out wi' next. 1823 Corbett Petticoat T. I. 226 Ye look as gleg as if ye had got a prize in the lottery. 1881 N. Linc. Gloss., Gleg,..pleased, happy. |
4. transf. Of things: † a. Bright, clear. rare—1.
| 1533 Bellenden Livy v. (1822) 441 Bot the mone wes sa gleg, schinand al nicht, that the batall wes fochtin to the uter end, als weil as it had bene day licht. |
b. Sharp, keen.
| 1728 Ramsay Fables, Monk & Miller's Wife 214 A Sage..Whase Wit was gleg as ony Razor. 1787 Burns Tam Samson's Elegy 99 For yet unskaith'd by death's gleg gullie, Tam Samson's livin. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 107 (Jam.) Death snaps the thread Wi' his gleg shears. |
c. Smooth (see quots.).
| 1808–80 Jamieson s.v., Gleg ice, ice that is very smooth. 1851 Cumbld. Gloss., Gleg, smooth; slippery. 1893 Northumbld. Gloss., Gleg, worn smooth; hence loose fitting. A tap that turns too easily and leaks from wear is said to be getting gleg. |
5. quasi-adv. = glegly.
| 1720 Ramsay Rise & fall of Stocks 27 The lad wha gleggest waits upon it, Receives the Bubble on his Bonnet. 1789 Burns On Grose's Peregrin. 43 Forbye, he'll shape you aff, fu' gleg, The cut of Adam's philibeg. |
6. Comb., as gleg-eyed, gleg-lugged, gleg-tongued adjs.
| 1721 Ramsay Addr. Town Counc. Edin. 15 Yet Gleg-eyed Friends throw the Disguise Receiv'd it as a dainty Prize. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 2 He tunes his lay, Till gleg-lug'd echo tak her dinsome rout. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xii, I haud a' your gleg-tongued advocates..as legalists and formalists. |
Hence ˈglegly adv., quickly, cleverly, readily; also, brightly, clearly; ˈglegness, acuteness (of perception), quickness.
| 1768 Ross Helenore iii. 122 To this auld Colen glegly 'gan to hark. 1814 Watchman i. ii, If ye look glegly after thieves and randies, folk can put up wi' the want of being wakened. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xiv, A kail-blaid, or a colliflour, glances sae glegly by moonlight, it's like a leddy in her diamonds. 1835 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. I. 37, I heard with my wonted glegness..a couple of handsome smacks! 1843 R. Paul Let. in Mem. xiv. (1872) 181, I don't recollect things so glegly. 1895 Crockett Men of Moss Hags 42 The Lord..did not stint me as to glegness of eye. |
▪ III. gleg, v. dial.
(glɛg)
[cf. gledge v. and glee v.]
(See quots.) Also ˈglegging ppl. a.
| a 1796 Pegge Derbicisms Ser. ii. 102 (E.D.S.), Glegg, to squint a little, to have a cast of the eye. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. II. 78 The simple rustics try their arts the while With glegging smiles, and hopes and fears between, Snatching a kiss to open what they mean. 1877 Holderness Gloss., Gleg, to give a sidelong glance. 1887 S. Chesh. Gloss., Gleg, to look furtively or askance. |
▪ IV. gleg
var. cleg.
| 1851 Stephens Bk. Farm (ed. 2) II. 188/1 The cleg or gleg..Hæmatopola pluvialis..is so well known, that [etc.]. |