farlie

English

Etymology

From Middle English farli, ferly, ferlich, feorlich (“a wonderful thing, a marvel, a wonder”), from Middle English farli, ferly, verlich, ferlik, ferlic, feorlic (“terrible, marvellous, wonderful”), from Old English fǣrlīċ (“sudden, unexpected, quick, horrible”), equivalent to fear +‎ -ly. Cognate with Scots ferlie (“farlie”), Old Norse ferlíki, ferlíkan (“a monster, abnormality, monstrosity”), Old Norse ferligr (“monstrous”).

Noun

farlie (plural farlies)

1. (obsolete, UK) An unusual or unexpected thing; a wonder.
   • 1612, Michael Drayton, Poly-Olbion, song 10 p. 161:

     (Whilst thus himselfe to please, the mightie Mountaine tells
     Such farlies of his Cluyd, and of his wondrous Wells)

   • 1822, John Galt, The Steam-Boat:

     I saw, in passing, many a farlie and fine things, such as St Paul's and the Tower

References

• “farlie”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• A-lifer, failer, ferial, fraile