Burly Definition

bûrlē
burlier, burliest
adjective
burlier, burliest
Big and strong; heavy and muscular.
Webster's New World
Rough and hearty in manner; bluff.
Webster's New World
(slang) Originating from the east end of London, England. An expressive term to mean something is good, awesome, amazing, unbelievable. e.g That goal was burly, or Räikkönen is a burly Formula 1 driver.
Wiktionary
(slang) Originating from surfer culture and/or Southern California. An expressive term to mean something is of large magnitude, either good or bad, and sometimes both. e.g. "That wave was burly!" (meaning it was large, dangerous and difficult to ride). "This hike is going to be burly, but worth it because there is good body surfing at that beach." (meaning the hike is going to be hard work).
Wiktionary
Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Burly

Adjective

Base Form:
burly
Comparative:
burlier
Superlative:
burliest

Origin of Burly

  • From Middle English burly, burely, borly, burlich, borlich, borlic (“tall, stately”), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Scots burely, burly (“rough, stout, sturdy, strong”). Perhaps from Old English *būrlīċ (“noble, stately”, literally “bowerly”), equivalent to bower +‎ -ly; or from Old English *byrlīċ (“high, raised”), from byre (“raised area, mound”), cognate with Old High German burlīh, purlīh (“lofty, elevated, high, exalted”), related to Old High German burjan (“to raise, lift, push up”). See burgeon.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English burlich from Old English borlic excellent bher-1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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