colly

American  

[kol-ee] / ˈkɒl i /

verb (used with object)

collied, collying

1. to blacken as with coal dust; begrime.

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noun

1. grime; soot.

colly British  

/ ˈkɒlɪ /

noun

1. soot or grime, such as coal dust

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verb

1. (tr) to begrime; besmirch

Etymology

Origin of colly

1555–65; variant of collow (v.), Middle English colwen, derivative of Old English col coal; -y ¹

Example Sentences

James figured to be rusty after missing the last 20 games with a high right ankle sprain suffered against Atlanta when Hawks forward Solomon Hill collied with him on March 20.

From Los Angeles Times

Though most of us sing “four calling birds,” the correct word is actually "colly," according to a 2016 blog post by the Library of Congress.

From National Geographic

I thought the “colly birds” version that most people, including me, still sing in Britain was perhaps one of those early-childhood mistakes that embarrassingly persist into late adulthood.

From Washington Post

“As colly passed out of common usage among English-language speakers, it’s no surprise that Austin’s similar-sounding alternative calling became more popular,” he wrote.

From Washington Post

Once called colly birds — an ancient term for blackbirds — they are ringing up at $599.96, the same as last year.

From New York Times