dooly

plural doolies · alternative dhooley · alternative dhooly · alternative dhouly · alternative dhuli · alternative dohleh · alternative doolae · alternative doli · alternative doolee · alternative dooley · alternative doolie · alternative dowle · alternative dowlee · alternative dholie

1. IndiahistoricalA basic Indian litter or sedan chair made of poles, ropes, and a seat or cloth.

   “Not going out this journey,” gasped Bobby, as he was lifted from the doolie. “Not going out this journey.”

   1889, Rudyard Kipling, “Only A Subaltern”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 153

   2 more examples

   The dhulí is a slight bamboo framework covered with coarse cloth, about two and a half feet square, with a bedding made of string woven across, on which the passenger sits. It is slung on a stout bamboo pole, and carried by two or four men.

   1877, D. B. Allen et al., “A Statistical Account of Bengal”, in Districts of Gayá and Sháhábád, volume 12, pages 81-82

   He said I should not be able to ride much farther, as the pass beyond Sultanpoor was utterly impracticable for horses; coolies, however, awaited me with a dooly, one of those low litters slung on a bamboo, in which you may travel swiftly and without effort, but to the destruction of the digestive organs.

   1882, F. Marion Crawford, Mr. Isaacs

2. IndiaarchaicSynonym of stretcher, a basic litter used for transport of the ill and injured.

   He also, in conjunction with Private John Ryan, rushed into the street under a heavy fire, and took Captain Arnold, 1st Madras Fusiliers, out of a dooly, and brought him into the house, that officer being again hit while they were so doing.

   1863, W.H.G. Kingston, Our Soldiers

   1 more example

   I thought at first I was as good as done for; however, on regaining a little strength, I looked around, and seeing none of our men in the place, and thinking it more than probable, from what I knew of their character, that the very men whom I had been endeavouring to save might take it into their heads to give me the "coup de grace" now I was left alone, I made a desperate effort, got on my legs, and managed to hobble out, when I soon found some of our men, who supported me until a dooly could be brought, into which I was placed, and was soon on my way to the doctor.

   1840, T.W.E. Holdsworth, Campaign of the Indus

   Synonyms: stretcher

3. IndiaobsoleteSynonym of litter of whatever type.

   Synonyms: litter of whatever type

1. A surname.