▪ I. coley, n.
(ˈkəʊlɪ)
[Perh. a contraction of coal-fish n. (see -y6), or f. coalsey n.]
= coal-fish n.
| 1969 A. Wheeler Fishes Brit. Isles & N.-W. Europe 274 (heading) Saithe (Coalfish; Coley) Pollachius virens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Gadus virens). 1972 Which? May 135/1 Saithe..may be called coal fish, coley, and a whole host of local names from cooth to prinkle. 1982 S. B. Flexner Listening to Amer. 210 Many Americans wouldn't know..that a coalfish or a coley fillet is black cod. 1987 Financial Times 22 Dec. 5/8 The ships..will fish for cod, haddock and coley off Rockall. |
▪ II. † ˈcoley, v. Obs.
Also coly, colly.
[a. OF. colei-er, coloier, collier to turn the neck, f. col, cou neck (Rom. type collicare): cf. manier to handle.]
intr. To turn the neck, turn the head from side to side: said of birds.
| c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. lxxxiv. (1869) 106 While the brid goth coleyinge [colliant], hider and thider turnynge the nekke. 1486 Bk. St. Albans A vj b, Yowre hawke colyeth and not beckyth. 1678 Phillips, Collieth, a term in Faulconry. 1715 in Kersey s.v. Colly. Hence in Bailey. |
▪ III. coley
obs. form of collie.