Meanings
plural farlies
- UKobsoleteAn unusual or unexpected thing; a wonder.
I saw, in passing, many a farlie and fine things, such as St Paul's and the Tower
1822, John Galt, The Steam-Boat1 more example
(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
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- Old Englishfǣrlīċ“sudden, unexpected, quick, horrible”
- Middle Englishfarli
- Englishfarlie
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”).
More words from Middle English, Old English
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
farlie. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/farlie
“farlie.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/farlie. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “farlie,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/farlie.
Source: farlie on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.