/ˈɡʌli/
OriginOrigin uncertain. Possibly from a variant of Middle English golet (“esophagus, gullet”), from Old French goulet, from Latin gula (“throat”). Shift in meaning in Middle English to "water channel, ravine" may have been influenced by Middle English gylle, gille, galle (“deep narrow valley, ravine”); see gill. Compare Dutch geul.
Alternatively, from a diminutive of dialectal gull (“fissue, chasm”) + -y (diminutive suffix). See gull, gullick.
- A trench, ravine or narrow channel which was worn by water flow, especially on a hillside.
- A small valley.
- UKA drop kerb.
- A road drain.
“A new drainage run and rainwater gullies are to be installed between the station and Oxford Road, with completion planned for December 1.”
- A fielding position on the off side about 30 degrees behind square, between the slips and point; a fielder in such a position
- UKA grooved iron rail or tram plate.
- Northern, Scotland, UKA large knife.
“With that I made my mind up, took out my gully, opened it with my teeth, and cut one strand after another[…]”
- obsoleteTo flow noisily.
- transitiveTo wear away into a gully or gullies.
Formsgullies(plural) · gulley(alternative) · gullies(present, singular, third-person) · gullying(participle, present) · gullied(participle, past) · gullied(past) · Gullys(plural)