burly Hear it!

burly Definition

burly (bʉr)

adjective -·lier, -·li·est

  1. big and strong; heavy and muscular
  2. rough and hearty in manner; bluff

Etymology: ME borlich, excellent, noble, handsome, altered (? by assoc. with bour, bower) < OE borlice, very, excellently

burly Related Forms

bur·li·ness noun

burly Synonyms

burly

modif.

burly Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • life: These splendid dwellings were created as retreats from the hurly burly of city life and many are distinctly opulent.
  • politics: He appeared to us to be quite detached from the hurly burly of office politics.

Modifies a noun

  • policeman: The door imploded; boots came down either side of me as burly policemen marched over my body and into the house.
  • bloke: Check out the video clip - at least four burly blokes trying to drag an old man out of his seat.
  • striker: The burly striker did not hesitate as he lashed his shot into the net from eight yards out.
  • guard: The armored truck had arrived with two burly security guards.
  • guy: Several big burly guys refused to get out of their trucks.
  • man: They walk into the sitting room, where they see a burly, large man.

Modifying Another Word

  • hurly: By contrast to the ' hurly burly ' of Orlando, Naples is a real escape.
  • rather: He is tall and jovial and rather burly as conductors go, the possessor of almost as many curls as Simon Rattle.

Browse dictionary entries near burly

  1. Burlington
  2. burley
  3. burlesque
  4. Burleigh
  5. burlap
  6. burl
  7. Burkitt's lymphoma
  8. Burkina Faso
  9. Burke,Tim(othy)
  10. Burke,Tim
  1. Burma
  2. Burmese
  3. burn
  4. burn rate
  5. burnable
  6. Burnaby
  7. Burne-Jones
  8. burned
  9. burned up
  10. burner