ferly

Scots

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English fērlī (“astonishing, surprising, unexpected”), from Old English fǣrliċ (“sudden, unexpected”), equivalent to fear +‎ -ly.

Noun

ferly (uncountable)

  1. (obsolete) astonishment, surprise, wonder
    • 1893, George MacDonald, Heather and Snow:
      “Weel, lassie, I reckon that wasna ony ferly (strange occurrence)!

Adjective

ferly (not comparable)

  1. (obsolete) unexpected, amazing
    • 1888, Richard Francis Burton, Arabian Nights, Volume XV, page 113:
    Seems ferly fair to all admiring orbs...
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