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ferly (FER-lee) - n., something unusual, strange, or causing wonder or terror; astonishment, wonder. adj., strange, unexpected, unusual. v., to be surprised, to wonder.
Mark this one down under "words met in the Child Ballads." This is, as you might expect, an old one, and the word largely survives only in Scottish English. It's attested from the 13th century as ferly, derived from Old English fǣrlīc, unexpected, from fǣr, sudden danger, which is also the root of fear.
---L.
Mark this one down under "words met in the Child Ballads." This is, as you might expect, an old one, and the word largely survives only in Scottish English. It's attested from the 13th century as ferly, derived from Old English fǣrlīc, unexpected, from fǣr, sudden danger, which is also the root of fear.
---L.
