colly

verb

col·ly ˈkä-lē

collied; collying

Synonyms of colly next

next

transitive verb

dialectal, chiefly British

: to blacken with or as if with soot

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English colwen, from Old English *colgian, from Old English col coal

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of colly was in 1590

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Browse Nearby Words

colluvium

colly

collyba

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Colly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colly. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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