colly

verb

col·​ly ˈkä-lē How to pronounce colly (audio)
collied; collying
Synonyms of collynext

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

Rhymes for colly

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Browse Nearby Words

colluvium
colly
collyba
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Colly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colly. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

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