burly

[ bur-lee ]
See synonyms for burly on Thesaurus.com
adjective,bur·li·er, bur·li·est.
  1. large in bodily size; stout; sturdy.

  2. bluff; brusque.

Origin of burly

1
1250–1300; Middle English borli, burli,Old English borlīce (adv.) excellently, equivalent to bor(a) ruler + -līce-ly

Other words for burly

Opposites for burly

Other words from burly

  • bur·li·ly, adverb
  • bur·li·ness, noun
  • un·bur·ly, adjective

Words Nearby burly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use burly in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for burly

burly

/ (ˈbɜːlɪ) /


adjective-lier or -liest
  1. large and thick of build; sturdy; stout

Origin of burly

1
C13: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German burlīh lofty

Derived forms of burly

  • burliness, noun

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