Dictionary

farlie en · NOUN

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”).

Meanings

1. (UK, obsolete) An unusual or unexpected thing; a wonder.
   • (Whilst thus himselfe to please, the mightie Mountaine tells Such farlies of his Cluyd, and of his wondrous Wells) 1612, Michael Drayton, Poly-Olbion, song 10 p. 161:
   • I saw, in passing, many a farlie and fine things, such as St Paul's and the Tower 1822, John Galt, The Steam-Boat:

Forms