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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

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of colly was in 1600

Rhymes for colly

See All Rhymes for colly

Browse Nearby Words

colluvium
colly
collyba
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Cite this Entry

“Colly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colly. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.

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