brawly

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɹɔːli/
• Homophone: Brawley

Etymology 1

From brawl +‎ -y.

Adjective

brawly (comparative more brawly, superlative most brawly)

1. Having or characterised by brawls.
   • 1974, James Michael Brady, Bookmaking: The Sociology of an Illegal Occupation, page 70:

     Although it is not a boisterous or brawly bar, there is a constant flow of noises from the television, the jukebox, the pool table, pinball machine, and telephone.

   • 2003, Susan Conant, Dead and Doggone, page 6:

     The sudden, brawly shock of a dog fight, the primitive wailing, the guttural intimidations, the unpredictable lunges and slashes that can kill your dog or brand him a killer — all of it impels people to add human yells to the noisy chaos.

Derived terms

• brawliness

Etymology 2

Adverb

brawly (comparative more brawly, superlative most brawly)

1. (Scotland) Finely, handsomely.
   • 1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: […], London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC:

     “And how is yourself, Cluny?” said Alan. “I hope ye do brawly, sir. And I am proud to see ye, and to present to ye my friend the Laird of Shaws, Mr. David Balfour.”

   • 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:

     He was good to look on, brawly dressed, and with a tongue in his head that would have wiled the bird from the tree.

Anagrams

• byrlaw, warbly

Scots

Etymology

braw +‎ -ly

Adverb

brawly (comparative mair brawly, superlative maist brawly)

1. Finely, handsomely.