solly

English

Etymology

eye dialect spelling of sorry. In many Eastern countries, people have difficulty with distinguishing the sounds of the letters l and r. See also Japanese speakers learning r and l

Adjective

solly

  1. Eye dialect spelling of sorry. (mimicking an Asian accent)
    • 1902, Herbert Allen Giles, China and the Chinese:
      Some years back, when I was leaving China for England with young children, their faithful Chinese nurse kept on repeating to the little ones the following remarkable sentence, "My too muchey solly you go steamah; you no solly my."
    • 1908, Ethel Turner, In the Mist of the Mountains:
      "I'm solly," he said; then he seemed to realize more clearly that the lady's honour had to be vindicated before all these "girls," and he repeated more loudly and without being asked, "I'm velly solly."

Anagrams


Middle English

Adjective

solly

  1. Alternative form of selly
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