| Library / English Dictionary |
BURLY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: burlier , burliest
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Muscular and heavily built
Example:
'buirdly' is a Scottish term
Synonyms:
beefy; buirdly; burly; husky; strapping
Classified under:
Similar:
robust (sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction)
Domain region:
Scotland (one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts)
Context examples:
I glanced about the room, which had had its sanded floor sanded, no doubt, in exactly the same manner when the chief waiter was a boy—if he ever was a boy, which appeared improbable; and at the shining tables, where I saw myself reflected, in unruffled depths of old mahogany; and at the lamps, without a flaw in their trimming or cleaning; and at the comfortable green curtains, with their pure brass rods, snugly enclosing the boxes; and at the two large coal fires, brightly burning; and at the rows of decanters, burly as if with the consciousness of pipes of expensive old port wine below; and both England, and the law, appeared to me to be very difficult indeed to be taken by storm.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
“That’s my way too, Tom,” said my burly neighbour.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The tall and burly man is the Captal de Buch, whom I doubt not that you know, for a braver knight never laid lance in rest.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
A convoy, as I can well remember, was coming up it that day, the timid flock of merchantmen in front; the frigates, like well-trained dogs, upon the skirts; and two burly drover line-of-battle ships rolling along behind them.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“Sweet little coz!” answered the burly squire.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Yet it is not always the burliest and the wildest who are the most to be dreaded.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The burly De Clisson, however, restored the hopes of the attackers by beating to the ground Sir Thomas Wake of Yorkshire.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
In the waist gathered the Southampton mariners, hairy and burly men, with their jerkins thrown off, their waists braced tight, swords, mallets, and pole-axes in their hands.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
On the other side, with his knotted hand upon the young man's shoulder, came a stout and burly archer, brown and fierce eyed, with sword at belt and long yellow yew-stave peeping over his shoulder.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Close at the heels of the horses came two-score archers bearded and burly, their round targets on their backs and their long yellow bows, the most deadly weapon that the wit of man had yet devised, thrusting forth from behind their shoulders.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
